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Deutsche Post AG

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FY2012 Annual Report · Deutsche Post AG
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22 mm

212,5 mm

Annual Report 2012

Pioneering
Future 
MarKets

212,5 mm

22 mm

01  tHe grouP

Deutsche Post DHl is the world’s leading mail and logistics services group. the Deutsche Post and 
DHL corporate brands represent a one-of-a-kind portfolio of logistics (DHL) and communications 
(Deutsche Post) services. the group provides its customers with both easy-to-use standardised 
 products as well as innovative and tailored solutions ranging from dialogue marketing to industrial 
supply chains. about 475,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories form a global 
 network focused on service, quality and sustainability. With programmes in the areas of environmental 
 protection, disaster management and education, the group is committed to social responsibility.

the postal service for germany. the logistics company for the world.

  dp-dhl.com

  organisational structure, page 20.

02  seleCteD KeY Figures

revenue

Profi t from operating activities (EBIT)

return on sales 1

Consolidated net profi t for the period 2

operating cash fl ow

net liquidity (–) / net debt (+) 3

return on equity before taxes

earnings per share 4

Dividend per share

number of employees 6

1  EBIT / revenue.
2  after deduction of non-controlling interests.
3  Calculation 
4  basic earnings per share.
5  Proposal.
6  average FTE s.

 group Management report, page 49.

i

2011

2012

+ / – %

€ m

€ m

%

€ m

€ m

€ m

%

€

€

52,829

55,512

2,436

4.6

1,163

2,371

– 938

15.2

0.96

0.70

2,665

4.8

1,658

–203

1,952

19.2

1.37

0.70 5

423,348

428,287

5.1

9.4

–

42.6

–

–

–

42.7

0.0

1.2

Q 4 2011

14,126

Q 4 2012

14,577

599

4.2

175

827

5.7

542

1,262

– 629

–

–

–

–

+ / – %

3.2

38.1

–

>100

–

–

–

0.14

0.45

>100

–

–

–

–

–

–

 
 
 
 
178 MM

133 MM

letter to our sHareHolDers

Contents

a 甲

grouP ManageMent rePort  

b乙

CorPorate goVernanCe  

C 丙

ConsoliDateD FinanCial
stateMents  

D丁

FurtHer inForMation  

 17

 109

 135

 215

Dr Frank Appel

Chief Executive Officer 
Deutsche Post AG

 March 201, financial year 2012

In Chinese culture, red is the colour of wealth and good luck. So by tradition, red 
 envelopes contain happy news, New Year’s wishes and small gift s.

Last summer I too came back from China – a  country in which we have been  operating 
with our DHL business for more than 30 years – with many favourable  impressions. 
 During my several-week stay there, I was impressed with the dynamic of the  country 
and the energy and initiative shown by its people. China is a good example of the great 
potential that emerging markets off er a logistics company such as ours.

Th  anks to our presence in the world’s growth markets, the DHL divisions performed 
particularly dynamically in fi nancial year 2012 and played a key role in increasing 
our consolidated revenue by 5.1 % to €55.5 billion. In the MAIL division, revenues were 
up again signifi cantly in the parcel business, which helped to compensate for slight 
volume declines in the mail business. Consolidated EBIT improved by nearly 10 % to 
€2.67 billion. In the fourth quarter, growth was even more pronounced.

Th  e fact that external factors had a negative impact on our business makes this per-
formance all the more satisfying. During the year, our liquidity situation suff ered from 
two signifi cant one-time charges from an additional VAT payment and a demand by 
the European Commission for repayment of state aid. Furthermore, the global  economy 
grew only slightly and economic output in the euro zone even saw a decline.

Given these developments, at the Annual General Meeting we shall propose that a 
 dividend per share of €0.70 be paid to you as in the previous year. Th  e distribution 
 ratio of 53.3 % refl ects our dividend policy of paying out 40 % to 60 % of adjusted net 
profi t as dividends as a general rule.

I am very pleased to see that the progress we made in 2012 is now evident in the 
perform ance of our share price. Our shares performed much better than the DAX for 
the second year in a row and, with an annual yield of 45.6 %, are amongst the top ten 
on the index.

1 / 2

We took advantage of the positive perception of our company on the capital market 
and borrowed €2 billion at favourable, long-term conditions in December in order 
to continue funding our pension obligations. Th  is move will improve our cash fl ow 
and secure retirement benefi ts for our employees.

In the current fi nancial year, we expect moderate growth in the world economy that 
will pick up momentum as the year progresses with a corresponding increase in 
 revenues, especially in the DHL divisions.

Against this backdrop, we expect consolidated EBIT to reach between €2.7 billion and 
€2.95 billion in fi nancial year 2013. Th  e MAIL division is likely to contribute between 
€1.1 billion and €1.2 billion to this fi gure. In the DHL divisions, we expect an additional 
improvement in overall earnings to between €2.0 billion and €2.15 billion. Operating 
cash fl ow will recover from the one-time charges in the previous year and benefi t from 
the earnings improvement.

For me, achieving such good fi nancial results in a diffi  cult environment is just further 
 evidence that our Strategy 2015 is delivering and is being implemented successfully – 
for the benefi t of our shareholders, customers and employees. With our extensive 
portfolio of products and services, targeted innovations in growth areas, exceptional 
position in the emerging markets and a culture of continuous improvement, we have 
laid the best possible foundation for further growth.

Just like the people I had the pleasure of meeting in China – such as at the opening 
of the North Asia Hub in Shanghai, on my delivery tour and in one-on-one talks with 
employees on site – we shall continue to press forward with spirit and determination.

Yours faithfully,

2 / 2

133 MM

133 MM

178 MM

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186 MM

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Contents

03  target-PerForManCe CoMParison

Pioneering 

Future MarKets

P

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F

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China is not only a fascinating country and the world’s largest 

export country; it is also gaining importance as a domestic 

logistics market. DHL has been doing business in China for 

more than 30 years and is the fastest, most reliable express 

service provider there. as a logistics pioneer in the region, 

Deutsche Post DHl has continually expanded its global network, 

opening up asia’s growth markets both for the company and 

for other industries. through our knowledge of the country, its 

people and its culture, we shall continue to unlock a wealth 

of potential for our customers in the market of the future – in 

China – and in other emerging markets.

goals 2012  

results 2012  

goals 2013  

EBIT  

group: €2.6 billion 
to €2.7  billion 1.

MAIL division: €1.0 billion 
to €1.1 billion.

DHL divisions: around 
€2.0 billion 1.

Corporate Center / other: 
around €–0.4 billion.

EBIT  

group: €2.67 billion.

MAIL division: €1.05 billion.

DHL divisions: €2.04 billion.

EBIT  

group: €2.7 billion 
to €2.95  billion.

MAIL division: €1.1 billion 
to €1.2 billion.

DHL divisions: €2.0 billion 
to €2.15 billion.

Corporate Center / other: 
€–0.42 billion.

Corporate Center / other: 
around €–0.4 billion.

Consolidated net profi t 2  

Consolidated net profi t 2 

Operating cash fl ow  

C
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Continue to improve consoli-
dated net profi t before effects 
from the Postbank trans-
action, the additional VAT 
payment and the reversal of 
restructuring provisions in 
line with operating business 
(previous year: consolidated 
net profit before effects 
from the measurement of 
the Postbank instruments 
€1.46  billion).

Capital expenditure  
(capex) 3

increase investments 
from €1.72 billion (2011) to 
a maximum of €1.8 billion.

Consolidated net profi t 
before effects from the 
measurement of the 
Postbank transaction, the 
additional VAT payment 
and the reversal of 
restructuring provisions: 
€1.63 billion.

operating cash fl ow will 
recover from the one-time 
charges in 2012 and benefi t 
from the expected earnings 
improvement.

Capital expenditure  
(capex)

invested: €1.70 billion.

Capital expenditure  
(capex)

increase investments to 
a maximum of €1.8 billion.

Dividend distribution  

Dividend distribution    

Dividend distribution  

Pay out 40 % to 60 % of net 
profi t as dividend.

Proposal: pay out 53.3 % 
of adjusted net profi t as 
dividend.

Pay out 40 % to 60 % of net 
profi t as dividend.

1  Forecast increased over the course of the year.
2  after deduction of non-controlling interests.
3  Forecast narrowed over the course of the year.

the group  
selected Key Figures  
letter to our shareholders  
target-Performance Comparison  
Pioneering Future Markets  

a 甲

grouP ManageMent rePort  
business and environment  
Deutsche Post shares  
economic Position  
Divisions  
non-Financial Performance indicators  
Further Developments  
outlook  

b乙

CorPorate goVernanCe  
report of the supervisory board  
supervisory board  
board of Management  
Mandates  
Corporate governance report  

C 丙

ConsoliDateD FinanCial 
 stateMents  
income statement  
statement of Comprehensive income  
balance sheet  
Cash Flow statement  
statement of Changes in equity  
notes to the Consolidated  Financial statements  
responsibility statement  
independent auditor’s report  

D丁

FurtHer  inForMation  
index  
glossary  
graphs and tables  
locations  
Multi-Year review  
Contacts  
events  

 I
 I
 1
 2
 3

 17
 19
 33
 36
 50
 70
 84
 85

 109
 111
 115
 116
 118
 119

 135
 137
 138
 139
 140
 141
 142
 213
 214

 215
 217
 218
 219
 220
 222
 224
 II

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Pioneering 
Future MarKets

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China is not only a fascinating country and the world’s largest 
export country; it is also gaining importance as a domestic 
logistics market. DHL has been doing business in China for 
more than 30 years and is the fastest, most reliable express 
service provider there. as a logistics pioneer in the region, 
Deutsche Post DHl has continually expanded its global network, 
opening up asia’s growth markets both for the company and 
for other industries. through our knowledge of the country, its 
people and its culture, we shall continue to unlock a wealth 
of potential for our customers in the market of the future – in 
China – and in other emerging markets.

 
 
4

D
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Message  
in a bottle

the Chinese are discovering wine. accord-
ing to experts, the market grew by 140 per 
cent between 2006 and 2010. today, China 
is the fifth largest wine market in the world. 
and the more exclusive and expensive the 
vintage, the better – because here, wine is 
not only a drink, it is also a status symbol. 
the most important trans-shipment point 
is Hong Kong. in a former warehouse right 
on the harbour, DHL global Forwarding has 
invested more than one million euros in its 
Wine Hub.

Wine consumption in China 1

+140% 

2006

2010

1 source: Vinexpo.

 
 
Huge  
groWtH MarKet

in 2009, average wine consumption in 
China totalled 1.15 litres per person. as 
a comparison, approximately 24.44 litres 
were consumed in germany and in France 
the average was even higher, at 45.23 litres. 
nevertheless, China is seen as a growth 
market for wine because of its enormous 
population, despite the fact that the aver-
age Chinese person’s wine consumption 
may have to catch up compared to that 
of other countries.1

growth in Hong Kong’s import wine trade 2
US$ million

1,211.2

859.7

492.4

2009

2010

2011

DHL Wine Hub, Hong Kong

230,000 bottles

are stored in the hub; 180,000 are handled each year.

Wine consumption  
in selected countries in 2010 3
million 9-litre-cases (a crate of twelve 750 ml bottles)

300

France

116

311

usa

282

156

China

98

spain

germany

307

141

uK

argentina

italy

sources:
1 Wine institute.
2 Census and statistics Department, Hong Kong.
3 Vinexpo.

1

2

1
if someone wants to enjoy  
an excellent wine, they call DHL.

2
bottles imported to China have  
to be re-labelled.

3
Wine is not just a drink in China;  
it is also a status symbol.

it smells like the sea and the sun is hot. if you visit the DHL  global Forwarding 
Wine Hub in Hong Kong’s Kennedy town, the tropical climate may overwhelm you. 
right  on  the  harbour  is  a  rather  unspectacular  concrete  building  where  cargo, 
mainly rice, is unloaded at the ramps on the ground floor. take the freight lift up 
to the 13th floor and you find yourself in another world, where long rows of shelves 
house a total of 230,000 bottles of wine. and almost all of it is the premium variety. 
“in  Hong  Kong  about  60  per  cent  of  the  total  wine  market  is  in  the  luxury  seg-
ment,” says edward Hui, CEO of DHL global Forwarding for Hong Kong, Macau and 
south China. the most expensive bottle costs HK$1.6 million, or around €160,000. 
in asia, the favourites are expensive bordeaux wines from France. in second place 
are italian wines.

Market with substantial growth potential
in order to store the wine properly, an environment was created that appro-
ximates a wine cellar. thanks to modern air conditioning, the room temperature 
is maintained constantly at between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius and the humidity 
between 70 and 80 per cent. there is no direct sunlight and no heavy equipment 
to disturb the bottles.

in 2008, the Hong Kong government abolished its tax on wine and since then 
the former crown colony has developed into one of the most important wine busi-
ness centres in the world. “the asian markets offer enormous growth potential, 
and  Hong  Kong  is  the  door  to  these  markets,”  says  Mr  Hui. DHL  has  seized  the 
opportunity and, in the past few years, has become a specialist in importing and 
storing wine. 

employees receive special training
approximately  180,000  bottles  pass  through  the  Wine  Hub  each  year.  in 
wine-producing countries overseas the valuable bottles are carefully packed for 
the journey by air or sea to asia. the temperature and humidity have to be just 
right along the entire supply chain. “our employees have been trained and handle 
these valuable bottles with the utmost care,” explains Kam Keung lai, who is in 
charge of the wine warehouse. they print the labels for the bottles being exported 
to China – as required by customs – or prepare the wines for their big day at one 
of Hong Kong’s many auctions. the large auction houses there reported wine sales 
valued at over US$198 million in 2011 – a figure that puts Hong Kong ahead of new 
York and london, which were previously the major locations for wine auctions.

Wine shipments delivered at the perfect temperature
Yet wine merchants, restaurants and auction houses aren’t the only ones that 
rely on DHL’s services – an increasing number of private individuals do, too. Hardly 
anybody in Hong Kong has their own wine cellar. instead, they pick up the tele-
phone when they want to enjoy an excellent wine with their evening meal. the 
wine  order is assembled, carefully packed and delivered to its destination at just 
the right time and at just the right temperature – a feat made possible thanks to a 
special foil that was designed for temperature-controlled deliveries. in the future, 
it could replace multiple manual temperature controls, and even reduce costs.

7

3

8

tHe  
MilKY WaY

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“Don’t cry over spilt milk,” the saying goes. 
but when there’s a line stop on a carton 
filling machine requiring spare parts, action 
must be taken immediately. Food producers 
all over the world rely on the filling lines 
of tetra Pak – a leading food  processing 
and packaging solutions company – to 
deliver products that end up on our kitchen 
 table. For this to happen requires efficient 
equip ment maintenance, including having 
the right parts on hand. in 2008, tetra Pak 
teamed up with DHL to create a new spare 
parts distribution system based in shang-
hai to service customers in the key asia 
Pacific region.

Milk – a growth market in China 1

  250,000  
dairy cows

 120,000 
dairy cows

1949

2004

21,850,000   
tonnes of milk

10,620,000   
tonnes of milk

1949

2004

1 source: China today.

+108%

+106%

Klas Wimmerstedt is the director  
of tetra Pak’s Parts supply Chain.

 
 
1

MiDDle Class 
CHanges 
 ConsuMer 
 beHaViour  

according to the Chinese academy of social 
sciences, as many as 230 million  people – 
37 per cent of the urban population – made 
up the middle class in 2009. this rapidly 
growing segment of the population has 
an appetite for high-quality products and 
increasingly for western food products 
such as milk. Forecasts indicate that China 
will surpass the united states as early as 
2015 as the largest food product market in 
the world, and that the market volume will 
nearly double to over one billion euros.1

Consumption of liquid milk products  
in asia Pacific 2

165.3 billion  
litres

144.5 billion  
litres

2

+14.4%

2011

2014 forecast

shanghai warehouse

 6,500 M² oF sPaCe

 1,827 M² sHelVing

a key trans-shipment hub 

in DeCeMber 2012, one-tHirD oF all 
 tetra PaK rePlaCeMent Part sHiPMents 
arounD tHe WorlD Were DeliVereD to 
CustoMers bY DHl exPress asia PaCiFiC.

sources:
1 PWC.
2 tetra Pak.

tetra Pak products are virtually everywhere. since the early 1950s, the company’s 
coated cardboard packages have influenced food storage and delivery practices 
worldwide.  today,  you’ll  find  tetra  Pak  products  in  nearly  every  household  and 
some 10,000 filling machines in operation at tetra Pak customers – typically milk 
or other liquid food producers – around the globe. Fresh food products that have 
to be packaged quickly. “For us and our customers, it’s a disaster if the machines 
are  standing  still  because  they  don’t  have  the  right  spare  parts,”  explains  Klas 
Wimmerstedt, Director of tetra Pak’s Parts supply Chain.

supply chain restructured
ensuring that the required spare parts are at the agreed place at the speci-
fied time is no small job. altogether, about 70,000 different part numbers need to 
be stocked at all times and distributed as quickly as possible to keep machines 
around the world running. “on average, we deliver a spare part to a machine at 
a customer every 20 seconds, 24/7,” says Mr Wimmerstedt. like many companies, 
tetra Pak found its supply chain challenged by booming growth in China. so in 
2008, it begun restructuring its supply chain, making a location in China the focal 
point for the asia Pacific region, and DHL its third-party logistics provider.

DHL  entered  the  Chinese  market  in  1980  and  is  the  only  express  provider 
there  licensed  to  store  both  bonded  goods  (items  that  are  not  taxed  until  they 
are shipped,)  and  non-bonded  goods  (items  sourced  in  China  and  destined 
for   export)  in  the  same  facility.  according  to  sean  Wall,  senior  Vice  President, 
 network  operations and aviation, DHL express asia Pacific, that reduces costs and 
streamlines processes for tetra Pak. now, instead of tetra Pak supplying a number 
of small warehouses in the asia Pacific region from europe, DHL ships directly to 
customers from the shanghai facility. “this gives us a unique advantage in terms 
of  the  bonded  goods,”  says  Mr  Wimmerstedt.  “shipments  move  directly  to  the 
customer. the paperwork for duties and taxes is done later on, which is great both 
in terms of speed and price.”

Making the move to centralise the supply chain in China required high  degrees 
of trust and flexibility on both sides. “there were a lot of unknowns. We were try-
ing things we had never done before and worked it out as we went along,” says 
Mr Wall. “tetra Pak had to put their faith in our customs-clearance expertise and 
trust  that  we  could  deliver.”  the  concept  was  drafted  and  the  implementation 
planned as a team effort – which included First Choice workshops. the trust put 
in DHL paid off. now, shanghai is tetra Pak’s best performing distribution centre 
in the world and its largest in terms of end-customer deliveries. in December 2012, 
one-third of all tetra Pak replacement part shipments were delivered to customers 
by DHL express asia Pacific.

special service satisfies customers
it is an example of successful customer collaboration that led to a custom- 
tailored solution. boris tranberg, global Customer Manager for tetra Pak at DHL 
Customer solutions & innovation, knows that other companies are keeping a close 
eye on the collaboration as the centre of gravity for world manufacturing shifts 
towards China. “it is an interesting business model for many customers – but you 
need guts to make the decision that tetra Pak has made.” Mr Wimmerstedt admits 
he was initially worried about the transition to the new distribution structure but 
now he is more than happy with the result. “We are very demanding – but we also 
appreciate it when things move in the right direction. together, we’ve been able to 
push the limits of performance. all in the interest of our customers.”

11

1
DHL serves tetra Pak customers 
throughout asia from the  shanghai 
warehouse.

2
replacement parts have to be 
available around the clock.

12

Hub  
For asia

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the new express hub in  shanghai is some-
thing special, and it has the  numbers to 
prove it: 88,000 square metres of space 
(the size of 13 football fields), an invest-
ment of 175 million US dollars, and sorting 
 capacity for up to 40,000 documents and 
 parcels per hour. indeed it’s so  special 
that the entire board of Management of 
Deutsche Post DHl attended the official 
opening celebration in July 2012. “DHL 
express’ north asia Hub is a logistics mile-
stone in our asia Pacific  network,” says 
Chief executive officer Dr Frank appel.

Four asian hubs

690 commercial flights per day
40 cargo aricraft
Flights to 40 countries

shanghai

Hong Kong

bangkok

singapore

 
1

2

3

More 
 inVestMents 
PlanneD

DHL already generates almost 20 per cent of 
its global revenue in the asia Pacific region. 
by 2017, the company plans to increase 
revenue in the region to a third of its total. 
in the last several years DHL has invested 
more than 2.5 billion US dollars to develop 
products and services in asia. in addition, 
the company plans to invest in further air-
craft in order to serve the high-demand 
trade lanes  between shanghai, northern 
asia, europe and the USA.

Major trade flows in the asia Pacific region 1
Volumes in 2012 (million tonnes)

2,920  
import

   2,825 
intra-regional

1,003  
export

MegaHub in Hong Kong

 90,000 M² oF sPaCe

 8 leVels

north asia Hub in shanghai

 88,000 M² oF sPaCe

 uP to 40,000 

 + 

 Per Hour

 365 DaYs a Year

1 source: Copyright © IHS, 2012. all rights reserved, as at 31 December 2012.

2

DHL express’ four regional hubs in the asia Pacific region – shanghai, Hong Kong, 
bangkok and singapore – link over 70 gateways located throughout the asia  Pacific 
region. the regional network is served by a fleet of over 40 cargo aircraft covering 
40 countries and in addition utilises approximately 690 commercial flights per day.

DHL is the market leader in China
today,  DHL  generates  almost  20  per  cent  of  its  overall  revenue  in  the  asia 
Pacific  region.  “DHL  pioneered  express  services  in  asia,”  says  Ken  allen,  CEO  of 
DHL express. “We tapped into the market and were the first international express 
company to enter China more than 30 years ago.” in the meantime, DHL has long 
since  matured from pioneer to market leader in the Middle Kingdom – thanks as 
well to extensive investments in infrastructure and the service portfolio. the com-
pany’s yellow-and-red vehicles are not only a common sight on Chinese streets, 
but also on roads all across asia. today, Deutsche Post DHl has 472 locations, a 
fleet of 3,639 vehicles and a market share of 40 per cent in the international express 
business in asia.

expertise and trust are what counts
“We  are  the  only  company  that  can  offer  everything  from  a  single  source,” 
explains Dr Frank appel. “in the past three decades we have built up a unique 
platform in the asian markets and laid the foundation for the sustainable success 
of our DHL divisions.”

even more importantly, “We have won the trust of our customers,” says alan 
liu,  general  Manager  of  the  north  asia  Hub  in  shanghai.  after  all,  asian  com-
panies  traditionally  tend  to  handle  their  logistics  and  supply  chain  processes 
themselves. However, many underestimate the complexity of these supply chains 
and  often  there  is  a  lack  of  needed  trust.  “We  not  only  have  to  show  that  we 
have the best logistics resources and unique expertise in transport and inventory 
management, we also have to show that we are 100 per cent reliable,” says Mr liu.

opportunities exploited throughout asia
this is how the group plans to continue to grow profitably in the future as 
well – and not only in shanghai. in July 2012, the group opened its MegaHub in 
Hong Kong. there, the SUPPLY CHAIN division takes advantage of the former crown 
colony’s unique status as a special administration zone and free trade area. the 
Chinese  mainland  is  only  a  thirty-minute  drive  away.  With  nearly  90,000  square 
 metres  spanning  eight  levels,  goods  from  international  customers  are  stored  in 
the warehouse – the most modern of its kind. lorries can drive up ramps as far as 
the ninth floor, four freight lifts connect the individual floors, and the latest fire 
prevention systems protect the goods.

1
the MegaHub in Hong Kong  
spans eight levels.

2
alan liu, general Manager,  
north asia Hub in shanghai.

3
the shanghai hub sorts up  
to 40,000  documents and parcels  
per hour.

15

4
the MegaHub in Hong Kong  
is the most modern of its kind.

4

DHL’s services also go above and beyond standard solutions: the MegaHub is 
more than just a warehouse. tom Wong,  Managing  Director of DHL supply Chain 
Hong Kong & Macau, explains: “the MegaHub allows us to meet a central need of 
our customers even better: by offering a comprehensive logistics  service solution 
from a single source.” this is also because the EXPRESS division operates another 
facility,  the  tsing  Yi  service  Centre,  in  the  same  building,  thus  allowing  DHL  to 
combine its services and better fulfil customers’ requirements.

16

17  

 108

grouP 
 ManageMent 
rePort

A 甲 Group  MAnAGeMent  reporta  

grouP ManageMent
 rePort

business anD enVironMent  

business activities and organisation  
Disclosures required by takeover law  
remuneration of the board of Management  
and the supervisory board  
economic parameters  
group management  

DeutsCHe Post sHares  

eConoMiC Position  

overall assessment by the board of Management  
significant events  
earnings  
Financial position  
assets and liabilities  

DiVisions  

overview  
MAIL division  
EXPRESS division  
GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division  
SUPPLY CHAIN division  

non-FinanCial PerForManCe  
 inDiCators  

employees  
Diversity  
Health and safety  
Corporate responsibility  
Procurement  
research and development  
Customers and quality  
brands  

FurtHer DeVeloPMents  

report on post-balance-sheet date events  

outlooK  

overall assessment of expected performance  
opportunities and risks  
strategic focus  
Future organisation  
Future economic parameters  
revenue and earnings forecast  
Projected financial position  

 19

 19
 20

 25
 25
 31

 33

 36

 36
 36
 37
 39
 48

 50

 50
 52
 58
 63
 67

 70

 70
 73
 75
 76
 78
 79
 80
 83

 84

 84

 85

 85
 85
 96
 103
 103
 106
 107

  
Group Management Report
Business and Environment
Business activities and organisation

  glossary, page 218

business anD enVironMent

business activities and organisation

The leading mail and logistics group

Deutsche Post DHL is the world’s leading mail and logistics services provider. The 
Deutsche Post and DHL corporate brands represent a one-of-a-kind portfolio of logistics 
(DHL) and communications (Deutsche Post) services. We provide our customers with 
both easy-to-use standardised products as well as innovative and tailored solutions 
ranging from dialogue marketing to industrial supply chains. About 475,000 employees 
in more than 220 countries and territories form a global network focused on service, 
quality and sustainability. With programmes in the areas of climate protection, disaster 
relief and education, we are committed to social responsibility.

Four operating divisions

The Group is organised into four operating divisions, each of which is under the 
control of its own divisional headquarters and is subdivided into business units for 
reporting purposes.

We are the only provider of universal postal services in Germany. In our MAIL 
 division, we deliver domestic and international mail and parcels and we are specialists in 
dialogue marketing, nationwide press distribution services and all the electronic services 
associated with mail delivery.

Our EXPRESS division offers courier and express services to business customers 
and consumers in more than 220 countries and territories, the most comprehensive 
network in the world.

Our GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division handles the carriage of goods by rail, 
road, air and sea. We are the world’s number one air freight operator, number two ocean 
freight operator and one of the leading overland freight forwarders in Europe.

Our SUPPLY CHAIN division is the global market leader in contract logistics, pro-
viding warehousing, managed transport and value-added services at every link in the 
supply chain for customers in a variety of industries. We also offer solutions for corpor-
ate information and communications management tailored precisely to the needs of 
our customers.

We  consolidate  the  internal  services  that  support  the  entire  Group,  including 
 Finance, IT and Procurement, in our Global Business Services (GBS). This allows us 
to make even more efficient use of our resources whilst reacting flexibly to the rapidly 
changing demands of our business and our customers.

Group management functions are centralised in the Corporate Center.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

19

A.01  Organisational structure of Deutsche Post DHL

Corporate Center

Finance, Global 
 Business Services
Board member
• lawrence rosen 

Functions
• Corporate account-
ing & reporting
• Corporate audit &  

security

• Corporate Controlling
• Corporate Finance
• global business 
 services: Procure-
ment, real estate, 
Finance operations 
etc.

• investor relations
• taxes

CEO
Board member
• Dr Frank appel 

Functions
•  board services
• Corporate Commu-
nications & respon-
sibility
• Corporate 

 Development

• Corporate First Choice
• Corporate Heritage &  
industry associations

• Corporate legal
• Corporate office
• Corporate Public 

Policy & regulation 
Management

• Customer solutions &  

innovation 

Divisions

GLOBAL 
 FORWARDING, 
FREIGHT
Board member
• roger Crook

Business units
• global 

 Forwarding

• Freight

SUPPLY CHAIN
Board member
• bruce edwards

Business units
• supply Chain
• Williams lea

Human Resources
Board member
• angela titzrath 

MAIL
Board member
• Jürgen gerdes

EXPRESS
Board member
• Ken allen

Regions
• europe
• americas
• asia Pacific
• MEA (Middle 
east and 
africa)

Functions
• HR MAIL
• HR DHL
• Corporate executives 
• group labor  relations
• HR Development
• HR Performance &  

Programs

• HR standards &  

guidelines

Business units
• Mail Communi-

cation
• Dialogue 
Marketing
• Press services
• Value-added 

services

• Parcel 

 germany

• retail outlets
• global Mail
• Pension service

  Further information, page 220 f.

A presence that spans the globe
Deutsche Post DHL operates around the world. The map shows our most important 

locations.

Angela Titzrath new Board Member for Human Resources

As at 1 May 2012, Angela Titzrath assumed responsibility for the Human Resources 
board department. At that time, we also adjusted the Board of Management’s allocation 
of duties: responsibility for all HR functions have been moved to the Human Resources 
board department.

Disclosures required by takeover law

Disclosures required under sections 289 (4) and 315 (4) of the Handelsgesetzbuch 

(HGB – German Commercial Code) and explanatory report

Composition of issued capital, voting rights and transfer of shares

As at 31 December 2012, the company’s share capital totalled €1,209,015,874 and was 
composed of the same number of no-par value registered shares. Each share  carries the 
same statutory rights and obligations and entitles the holder to one vote at the  Annual 
General Meeting (AGM). No individual shareholder or group of shareholders is entitled 
to special rights, particularly rights granting powers of control.

20

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
Group Management Report
Business and Environment
Disclosures required by takeover law

The exercise of voting rights and the transfer of shares are based on the general legal 
requirements and the company’s Articles of Association, which do not restrict either 
of these activities. Article 19 of the Articles of Association sets out the requirements 
that must be met in order to attend the AGM as a shareholder and exercise a voting 
right. Only persons entered in the share register shall be considered by the company 
to be shareholders. The Board of Management is not aware of any agreements between 
shareholders that would limit voting rights or the transfer of shares.

Members of the Board of Management receive stock appreciation rights (SAR s) each 
year as a long-term remuneration component under the Long-Term Incentive Plan pro-
vided that they each invest cash or Deutsche Post AG shares for each tranche of the plan. 
If a Board of Management member sells the shares included in their personal investment 
for the tranche or disposes of their personal cash investment before the scheduled wait-
ing period of four years has expired, all SAR s from that tranche will be forfeited.

As part of the Share Matching Scheme, participating Group executives are obligated 
to use a portion of their annual bonus to purchase shares in the company. According 
to the underlying terms, shares acquired under the scheme are subject to a four-year 
lock-up period.

Shareholdings exceeding 10 % of voting rights

KfW Bankengruppe (KfW), Frankfurt am Main, is our largest shareholder, holding 
around 25.5 % of the share capital. The Federal Republic of Germany holds an indirect 
stake in Deutsche Post AG via KfW. According to the notifications we have received pur-
suant to sections 21 et seq. of the Wertpapierhandelsgesetz (WpHG – German Securities 
Trading Act), KfW and the Federal Republic of Germany are the only shareholders that 
own more than 10 % of the share capital, either directly or indirectly.

Appointment and replacement of members of the Board of Management

The members of the Board of Management are appointed and replaced in accord-
ance with the relevant legal provisions (sections 84 and 85 of the Aktiengesetz (AktG – 
 German Stock Corporation Act) and section 31 of the Mitbestimmungsgesetz ( MitbestG – 
German Co-determination Act)). In accordance with section 84 of the AktG and section 
31 of the MitbestG, appointments by the Supervisory Board shall be for a maximum 
term of five years. Re-appointment or extension of the term of office is permitted for 
a maximum of five years in each case. Article 6 of the Articles of Association stipulates 
that the Board of Management must have at least two members. Beyond that, the num-
ber of board members is determined by the Supervisory Board, which may also appoint 
a chairman and deputy chairman of the Board of Management. 

Amendments to the Articles of Association

In accordance with section 119 (1), number 5 and section 179 (1), sentence 1 of the 
AktG, amendments to the Articles of Association are adopted by resolution of the AGM. 
In accordance with article 21 (2) of the Articles of Association in conjunction with 
sections 179 (2) and 133 (1) of the AktG, such amendments generally require a simple 
majority of the votes cast and a simple majority of the share capital represented on the 
date of the resolution. In such instances where the law requires a greater majority for 
amendments to the Articles of Association, that majority is decisive.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

21

Under article 14 (7) of the Articles of Association, the Supervisory Board has the 
 authority to resolve amendments to the Articles of Association in cases where the amend-
ments affect only the wording. In addition, the AGM resolutions passed on 21 April 2009 
(Authorised Capital 2009) and 25 May 2011 (Contingent Capital 2011) authorised the 
Supervisory Board to amend the wording of the Articles of Association to reflect the 
respective share issue or the use of authorised capital as well as following the expiry 
of the respective authorisation period and / or in the case of non-use of the contingent 
capital following the expiry of the periods for exercising options or conversion rights, or 
conversion obligations. The AGM resolution on Contingent Capital 2011 further author-
ises the Supervisory Board to make all other amendments to the Articles of Association 
associated with the issue of new shares in cases where the amendments affect the word-
ing only. In addition, the AGM resolutions passed on 28 April 2010 (authorisation to 
acquire and use treasury shares as well as to acquire treasury shares through derivatives) 
authorise the Supervisory Board to amend the wording of the Articles of Association 
if the purchased treasury shares are redeemed to reflect the redemption of shares and 
the reduction of share capital. The Board of Management is authorised to amend the 
information on the number of shares in the Articles of Association if it determines that 
the proportion of the other shares in the share capital is increased due to the redemption.

Board of Management authorisation, particularly regarding issue and buy-back 
of shares

The Board of Management is authorised, subject to the approval of the Super visory 
Board,  to  issue  up  to  240 million  new,  no-par  value  registered  shares  on  or  before 
20 April 2014 in exchange for cash and / or non-cash contributions and thereby increase 
the company’s share capital by up to €240 million (Authorised Capital 2009, article 5 (2) 
of the Articles of Association). To date, the Board of Management has not used such 
authorisation. When new shares are issued on the basis of Authorised Capital 2009, the 
shareholders are entitled in principle to pre-emptive subscription rights. Such rights may 
only be disapplied subject to the requirements specified in article 5 (2) of the Articles of 
Association and subject to the consent of the Supervisory Board. Details may be found 
in article 5 (2) of the Articles of Association of the company.

Authorised  Capital  2009  is  a  financing  and  acquisition  instrument  in  accord-
ance with international standards that allows the company to increase equity quickly, 
 flexibly and cost-effectively. The authorised capital is equivalent to less than 20 % of the 
share capital.

An AGM resolution was passed on 25 May 2011 authorising the Board of Manage-
ment, subject to the consent of the Supervisory Board, to issue bonds with warrants, 
convertible bonds and / or income bonds as well as profit participation certificates, or 
a combination thereof, (hereinafter referred to collectively as “bonds”) in an aggre-
gate principal amount of up to €1 billion, on one or more occasions until 24 May 2016, 
thereby granting options or conversion rights for up to 75 million shares having a total 
share in the share capital not to exceed €75 million. The bond conditions may also pro-
vide for a conversion obligation at the time of maturity of the bonds or at another time 
or may entitle the company or the Group company to grant the bond holders or creditors 
shares in the company in lieu of payment of all or part of the sum of money payable. The 
share capital is contingently increased by up to €75 million in order to grant shares to 
the holders or creditors of the options, conversion rights or conversion obligations after 
exercise of their rights for the purpose of settling the entitlements related to the options 
or rights or fulfilling the conversion obligations (Contingent Capital 2011, article 5 (3) of 

22

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

the Articles of Association). When issuing bonds, pre-emptive subscription rights may 
only be disapplied subject to the terms of the aforementioned resolution and subject 
to the consent of the Supervisory Board. Further details may be found in the motion 
adopted by the AGM under agenda item 6 of the AGM of 25 May 2011.

Authorisation to issue bonds is standard practice amongst publicly listed compan-
ies. This allows the company to finance its activities flexibly and promptly and gives it 
the financial leeway necessary to take advantage of favourable market situations at short 
notice, for example by offering bonds with options or conversion rights, or conversion 
obligations on shares in the company as a consideration within the context of company 
mergers, and when acquiring companies or shareholdings in companies. Full use was 
made of the aforementioned authorisation in December 2012 by issuing a convertible 
bond in the aggregate principal amount of €1 billion.

Finally, the AGM of 28 April 2010 authorised the company to buy back shares on or 
before 27 April 2015 up to an amount not to exceed 10 % of the share capital existing as 
at the date of the resolution. Such authorisation is subject to the proviso that at no time 
should the shares thus acquired, together with the shares already held by the company, 
account for more than 10 % of the share capital. The shares may be purchased through 
the stock market, a public offer, a public call for offers of sale from the company’s share-
holders or by some other means in accordance with section 53a of the AktG. The author-
isation permits the Board of Management to exercise it for every purpose permissible 
under the law, particularly to redeem the purchased treasury shares without a further 
AGM resolution, subject to the consent of the Supervisory Board. Details may be found 
in the motion adopted by the AGM under agenda item 6 of the AGM of 28 April 2010.

In addition to this, the AGM of 28 April 2010 also authorised the Board of Manage-
ment, within the scope resolved by the AGM of 28 April 2010 in agenda item 6, to acquire 
treasury shares through the use of derivatives, namely by servicing options that, upon 
their exercise, require the company to acquire treasury shares (put options), by exercis-
ing options that, upon their exercise, grant the company the right to acquire treasury 
shares (call options) or by servicing or exercising a combination of put and call options. 
All share acquisitions using the aforementioned options are limited to a maximum of 5 % 
of the share capital existing on the date of the resolution. The term of the options may 
not exceed 18 months, must expire by no later than 27 April 2015 and be selected such 
that treasury shares may not be acquired by exercising the options after 27 April 2015. 
Further details may be found in the motion adopted by the AGM under agenda item 7 
of the AGM of 28 April 2010.

In addition to this, the AGM of 9 May 2012 authorised the Board of Management 
to additionally use the shares acquired on the basis of these authorisations to list the 
company’s shares on a foreign stock exchange on which the shares have not previously 
been admitted for trading on a regulated market, subject to the consent of the Super-
visory Board with pre-emptive subscription rights disapplied. Further details may be 
found in the motion adopted by the AGM under agenda item 6 of the AGM of 9 May 2012.

Group Management Report
Business and Environment
Disclosures required by takeover law

  dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html

  dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html

  dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html

  dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

23

It is standard business practice amongst publicly listed companies in Germany for 
the AGM to authorise the company to buy back shares. The authorisation to repurchase 
shares using derivatives is merely intended to supplement share buy-back as a tool and 
give the company the opportunity to structure the share repurchase in an optimum 
manner. The authorisation to use shares for the purpose of listing on a foreign stock 
 exchange is intended to enable the company to expand its shareholder base also in 
 foreign countries in line with its global orientation.

Any public offer to acquire shares in the company is governed solely by law and the 
Articles of Association, including the provisions of the Wertpapiererwerbs- und Über-
nahmegesetz (WpÜG – German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act). The AGM 
has not authorised the Board of Management to undertake actions within its sphere of 
competence to block possible takeover bids.

Significant agreements that are conditional upon a change of control following a 
takeover bid and agreements with members of the Board of Management or employ-
ees providing for compensation in the event of a change of control

Deutsche Post AG took out a syndicated credit facility with a volume of €2 billion 
from a consortium of banks. If a takeover within the meaning of the contract occurs, 
each member of the bank consortium is entitled under certain conditions to cancel 
its share of the credit line as well as its share of outstanding loans and require repay-
ment. The terms and conditions of the loans issued under the Debt Issuance Programme 
 established in March 2012 and of the convertible bond issued in December 2012 also 
contain change of control clauses. In case of a change of control within the meaning of 
the terms and conditions, the creditor is granted under certain conditions the right to 
demand early redemption of the respective bonds. Furthermore, a framework agree-
ment exists concerning the supply of fuel, based on which fuel in the value of a high 
double-digit million amount was obtained in the reporting year and which, in case of 
a change of control, grants the supplier the right to bring the business relationship to a 
close without notice.

In the event of a change in control, any member of the Board of Management is 
entitled to resign their office for good cause within a period of six months following 
the change in control, after giving three months’ notice as at the end of the month, 
and to terminate their Board of Management contract (right to early termination). In 
the event of the right to early termination being exercised or a Board of Management 
contract being terminated by mutual consent within nine months of the takeover, the 
Board of Management member is entitled to payment to compensate the remaining term 
of their Board of Management contract. Such payment is limited to the cap pursuant 
to the  recommendation of number 4.2.3 of the German Corporate Governance Code 
as amended on 15 May 2012, with the specification outlined in the remuneration report. 
With respect to options from the Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Board of Management 
member will be treated as if the waiting period for all options had already expired upon 
cessation of the Board of Management contract. The options eligible for exercise may 
then be exercised within six months of cessation of the contract. With regard to the 
Share Matching Scheme for executives, the holding period for the shares will become 
invalid with immediate effect in the event of a change in control of the company. In any 
such case, the employer will be responsible for any tax disadvantages resulting from 
reduction of the holding period. Excepted from this are taxes normally incurred after 
the holding period.

  Corporate governance, page 124 ff.

24

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Business and Environment
Economic parameters

remuneration of the board of Management  
and the supervisory board

The basic features of the remuneration system for the Board of Management and 
the  Supervisory  Board  are  described  in  the  Corporate  Governance  Report  under 
 remuneration report. The latter also forms part of the Group Management Report.

  Corporate governance, page 124 ff.

economic parameters

Global economy only grows at slow pace

In 2012, the global economy grew at only a slow pace, affected primarily by the sov-
ereign debt crisis in the European Monetary Union (EMU), the result of which caused 
the euro zone overall to fall back into a recession. Growth in the developed industrial 
countries in 2012 continued to slow compared with the already weak prior year. The 
emerging markets also saw a considerable decline in momentum. Overall and adjusted 
for purchasing power, global economic output in 2012 grew by only 3.2 % (previous 
year: 3.9 %). Growth in global trade weakened even further to just below 3 % (IMF: 2.8 %, 
OECD: 2.8 %).

A.02  Global economy: growth indicators in 2012

%

China

Japan

USA

euro zone

germany

Data partially estimated, as at 30 January 2013.
sources: Postbank research, national statistics.

gross  domestic 
product (GDP)

7.8

1.9

2.2

– 0.5

0.7

exports

7.9

– 0.3

3.2

2.8

4.1

Domestic 
demand

n / a

2.8

2.1

–2.0

– 0.3

Asian countries again generated the highest economic momentum. However, the 
 upwards  trend  lost  a  great  deal  of  speed.  Gross  domestic  product  (GDP)  was  6.6 % 
( previous year: 8.0 %) and therefore the lowest growth rate in the past decade.

In China, the government made efforts to boost domestic demand. However, it 
was unable to completely compensate for the negative impact of weak foreign demand. 
GDP only grew by 7.8 % (previous year: 9.3 %), the lowest rate since the start of the 
new millennium. Exports increased by 7.9 % (previous year: 20.3 %). However, because 
imports were down even more at 4.3 % (previous year: 24.9 %), the trade surplus in-
creased considerably from US$158 billion to US$231 billion. Nevertheless, the country 
remained attractive to foreign investors, who made direct investments in the amount 
of US$111.7 billion (previous year: US$116 billion).

The Japanese economy saw a strong recovery at the beginning of the year, only to 
see a marked decrease over the course of the year. Exports were up only slightly overall. 
Since imports increased considerably at the same time, foreign trade had a noticeably 
adverse effect on growth. By contrast, comparatively high growth rates were seen in pri-
vate consumption and investments. Overall GDP was up by 1.9 % (previous year: –0.6 %).
In the United States, the economy recovered slightly in the reporting year. Gross 
fixed capital formation was the primary driver of growth. Investments in residential 
housing, which saw growth percentages in the double digits, played a key role.  Private 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

25

 
consumption remained moderate and foreign trade did not provide any noteworthy 
stimulus either. Instead, it was further reductions in public spending that had an impact 
on growth. GDP increased by 2.2 % (previous year: 1.8 %).

In the euro zone, economic output was down by 0.5 % (previous year: +1.4 %) in the 
reporting year as a result of the sovereign debt crisis and fiscal consolidations. Although 
on average real public spending in the EMU declined only slightly, spending cuts and 
tax increases slowed private consumption and corporate investment. Domestic demand 
fell by about 2 %. The economic downturn was counterbalanced somewhat by foreign 
trade. Whilst exports increased only moderately, imports actually decreased. As a result, 
 foreign trade saw a plus of 1.5 percentage points. The variations in growth within the 
euro zone remained large: whilst nearly all the southern member states experienced 
sharp declines in GDP and economic output in France stagnated, Germany and Austria 
were at least able to achieve moderate growth.

The German economy grew considerably weaker over the course of 2012. GDP only 
increased by 0.7 % (previous year: 3.0 %), driven by foreign trade. Although exports grew 
by only 4.1 % (previous year: 7.8 %), growth in imports was even more moderate. In light 
of the uncertain environment, companies postponed investments. This included invest-
ments in construction, which declined slightly compared with the prior year.  Private 
consumption expanded only slightly. The upturn in the labour market came to a stand-
still over the course of the year. However, the average annual number of unemployed 
workers went down by 79,000 to around 2.9 million; the working population grew to 
41.6 million.

Price of crude oil fluctuates significantly over the year

At the end of 2012, a barrel of Brent Crude was US$111.94 (previous year: US$107.55). 
The annual average price of oil was around US$112, only about 1 % higher than in the 
prior year. Over the course of the year the price of oil fluctuated significantly between 
US$89 and US$127. At the beginning of the year, prices saw a sharp increase based on 
robust global economic forecasts and concerns regarding a military confrontation with 
Iran. Subsequently, the sovereign debt crisis in the EMU as well as the ever-growing 
weakness in the global economy put pressure on oil prices. 

A.03  Brent Crude spot price and euro / US dollar exchange rate in 2012

€

140

120

100

  80

  60

  40

1.55

1.50

1.45

1.40

1.35

1.30

1.25

1.20

1.15

1.10

1.05

January 

March 

June 

september 

December

  brent Crude spot price per barrel 

euro / US dollar exchange rate 

26

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
Group Management Report
Business and Environment
Economic parameters

Euro affected by EMU sovereign debt crisis

The European Central Bank (ECB) took additional measures at the beginning of 
2012 to curb the sovereign debt crisis. At mid-year the ECB lowered its key interest rate 
by 0.25 percentage points to 0.75 %. In August, the bank announced a new programme 
to purchase European government bonds. The announcement alone considerably sta-
bilised the market. By contrast, the US Federal Reserve maintained its very expansive 
monetary policy. It does not intend to increase its key interest rate from the current 0 % 
to 0.25 % until the unemployment rate falls below 6.5 %.

The euro and US dollar exchange rates were also shaped by the European sovereign 
debt crisis in the reporting year. The ECB’s measures initially sent the euro to its annual 
high of just under US$1.35 in February; at the beginning of the second half of the year 
it fell to its annual low of just under US$1.21 as a result of further signs of crisis and the 
interest rate reduction. By the end of the year the exchange rate had climbed again to 
just under US$1.32, resulting in a 1.8 % increase for the euro compared with the prior 
year. Measured against the pound sterling on the other hand, the euro posted a 2.8 % loss.

Corporate bonds impacted by sovereign debt crisis and economy

The weak economy and the sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone had an impact on 
the bond markets. The yield on German ten-year government bonds declined in July to a 
new low of 1.17 %, rising again moderately by the end of the year to 1.32 % (previous year: 
1.83 %). The return on ten-year US government bonds was also under pressure during 
the year but had only declined by 0.12 percentage points to 1.76 % year-on-year by the 
end of December 2012. Risk premiums for corporate bonds decreased considerably in 
the second half of 2012.

International trade growth varies from region to region 

Trade volumes (transported quantity in tonnes) increased by around 2.5 % world-
wide in the reporting year. Growth varied from region to region. Intra-European trade 
stagnated  due  to  the  sovereign  debt  crisis  and  the  resulting  weak  economy.  Trade 
 between emerging markets in the Asia Pacific region, Africa and the Middle East saw 
above- average growth.

A.04  Trade volumes: compound annual growth rate 2011 to 2012

imports 

%

exports

africa

asia Pacific

europe

latin america

Middle east

north america

africa

asia Pacific

europe

latin america

Middle east north america

9.4

6.1

8.0

1.8

11.6

– 6.5

8.6

4.7

4.5

3.2

5.3

1.0

12.9

1.6

– 0.4

–1.9

0.7

2.8

0.6

1.2

8.1

– 0.4

3.3

2.1

1.2

5.6

– 0.8

4.1

1.8

1.6

–11.5

3.5

–1.5

– 4.5

12.0

–3.6

source: Copyright © IHS global insight gmbH, 2012. all rights reserved, as at 31 December 2012.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

27

 
 
A.05  Major trade flows: 2012 volumes

million tonnes

Europe

 2,467

Middle East

 103

Africa
 42

Asia Pacific

 2,825

North America

 467

Latin America

 206

  intra-regional 

  More than 300 

  300 to 100 

  less than 100

North America

exports

imports

31

325

144

237

44

110

145

137

317

132

  781

  841

Latin America
exports

37

548

imports

35

110

69

237

22

  1,184

317

55

227
  473

Europe
exports

imports

Africa
exports

imports

136

526

137

69

175

  1,043

  1,389

279

478

144

227

261

  761

310

279

110

35

27

96

136

31

37

82

  382

Middle East
exports

82

1,211

imports

27

174

175

44

55

  475

261

132

22

  1,708

Asia Pacific
exports

96

478

145

110

174

imports

  1,003

310

526

325

548

1,211

  africa 

  asia Pacific 

  europe 

  north america 

  latin america 

  Middle east

source: Copyright © IHS, 2012. all rights reserved, as at 31 December 2012.

  2,920

28

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group Management Report
Business and Environment
Economic parameters

Our markets

Deutsche Post DHL is represented in more than 220 countries and territories. The 
following table provides an overview of market volumes in key regions. The relevant 
market parameters and our market shares are detailed in the Divisions chapter.

  Page 50 ff.

A.06  Market volumes 1

Global

air freight (2011): 24 m tonnes 2

ocean freight (2011): 33 m TEU s 3

Contract logistics (2011): € 154 bn 4

international express market (2011): € 22 bn 5

Germany

Mail communication (2012): € 4.2 bn 6

Dialogue marketing (2012): € 17.7 bn 6

Parcel (2012): € 7.8 bn 6

Americas

Europe

Middle East /Africa

Asia Pacific

air freight  
(2011): 6.7 m tonnes 2

ocean freight  
(2011): 6.0 m TEU s 3

Contract logistics  
(2011): € 44.6 bn 4

international  
express market  
(2011): € 7.4 bn 5

air freight  
(2011): 4.2 m tonnes 2

ocean freight  
(2011): 5.2 m TEU s 3

Contract logistics  
(2011): € 58.4 bn 4

international  
express market 
(2011): € 6.8 bn 5

road transport  
(2011): € 168 bn 7

air freight  
(2011): 1.3 m tonnes 2

ocean freight  
(2011): 2.4 m TEU s 3

Contract logistics  
(2011): € 4.3 bn 4

international  
express market 
(2011): € 0.3 bn 5

air freight  
(2011): 11.2 m tonnes 2

ocean freight  
(2011): 18.5 m TEU s 3

Contract logistics  
(2011): € 46.3 bn 4

international  
express market 
(2011): € 7.5 bn 5

1  regional volumes do not add up to global volumes due to rounding.
2  Data based solely on export freight tonnes. source: Copyright © IHS, 2012. all rights reserved.
3  twenty-foot equivalent units; estimated part of overall market controlled by forwarders. Data based solely on export freight tonnes. 

source: Copyright © IHS, 2012. all rights reserved.

4  source: transport intelligence.
5  includes express product time Definite international. Country base: AT, BE, CH, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FR, IE, IT, NL, NO, PL, RU, SE, TR, UK (europe); 
AR, BR, CA, CL, CO, CR, MX, PA, VE, US (americas); AU, CN, HK, ID, IN, JP, KR, MY, NZ, SG, TH, TW, VN (asia Pacific); TR, ZA (Middle east /africa). 
source: Market intelligence 2012, annual reports and desk research.

6  Company estimates.
7  Country base: total for 19 european countries, excluding bulk and specialties transport. source: MI study DHL Freight (based upon 

eurostat, financial publications, IHS global insight).

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

29

Factors affecting our business

We routinely and systematically review the most important factors affecting our 

business. Beyond economic parameters, we have identified four global trends:

1   Globalisation:  International markets are now more interconnected than ever; how-
ever, the individual national economies are growing at varying speeds. As a result 
the economic influence of markets is shifting. For instance, trade to and from Asia as 
well as within the continent has seen a sharp increase in recent years – a trend that 
will continue and which is also the case in other emerging regions, such as South 
America and the Middle East. Both sales markets and production centres are shift-
ing, which is increasing the complexity of the value chain. Our DHL divisions are in 
an above-average position in these regions and offer integrated logistics solutions 
worldwide.

2   Digitalisation:  The internet is having a lasting effect on the way we exchange goods 
and information. We increasingly see electronic communication taking the place of 
physical communication, which is reflected in a decline in the traditional mail busi-
ness. Dialogue marketing revenue is also on a slow decline. In order to  respond to 
this development, we have expanded our portfolio, for example with our  E-Postbrief 
product and by investing in nugg.ad. The online trade boom is opening up enor-
mous potential in our parcel business. In addition we are developing online offerings 
such as our online shopping portal, MeinPaket.de, and our online supermarket, 
allyouneed.com.

3   Climate change:  Environmental awareness is having an ever-increasing impact on 
the logistics industry. On the one hand, our customers are asking increasingly for 
climate-neutral products, and on the other hand, one of our primary concerns as 
the world’s leading logistics company is to do our part to increase CO2 efficiency. We 
not only offer our customers an extensive range of energy-saving transport options 
and climate-neutral products, we have also set our own efficiency goals. This includes 
transparent reporting instruments and efficient transport technologies.

4   Reliability:  The logistics industry is facing new challenges as a result of increased 
complexity in supply chains because this causes them to be much more prone to dis-
ruptions. Natural disasters have an impact on tightly scheduled logistics flows and 
political instability in a number of new markets adds to this. As a result, many cus-
tomers are placing increasing importance on the robustness of their supply chains. 
We are working constantly to ensure the highest possible reliability and we monitor 
our supply chains continuously in order to be able to respond to unforeseen events. 
In 2011, for instance, following the devastating earthquake in Japan, we proved that 
we are able to ensure the quality and reliability of our services even in challenging 
situations.

Legal environment

In view of our leading market position, a large number of our services are subject 
to sector-specific regulation under the Postgesetz (PostG – German Postal Act). Further 
information on this issue and legal risk is contained in the notes to the consolidated 
financial statements.

  strategic focus, page 98

  Corporate responsibility, page 76

  note 50

30

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Business and Environment
Group management

A.07  EAC calculation

EBIT

  asset charge

= net asset base 
× Weighted average cost of capital

   EBIT after asset charge (EAC)

A.08  Net asset base calculation

operating assets

•  intangible assets including goodwill
•  Property, plant and equipment
•  trade receivables, other operating 

assets

  operating liabilities

•  operating provisions
•  trade payables, other operating 

liabilities

  Net asset base

group management

EBIT after asset charge increases

Since 2008, Deutsche Post DHL has used EBIT after asset charge (EAC) as a key 
performance indicator. EAC is calculated by subtracting a cost of capital component, or 
asset charge, from EBIT.

By including the asset charge in our business decisions, we encourage all divisions 
to use resources efficiently and to organise our operating business to increase value sus-
tainably whilst generating cash flow. In the reporting year, EAC served as a key perform-
ance indicator in addition to EBIT and was also used as a basis on which to determine 
management remuneration.

To calculate the asset charge, the net asset base is multiplied by the weighted average 
cost of capital (WACC). The asset charge calculation is performed each month so that we 
can also take fluctuations in the net asset base into account during the year.

All of our divisions use a standard calculation for the net asset base. The key com-
ponents of operating assets are intangible assets, including goodwill, property, plant and 
equipment and net working capital. Provisions and operating liabilities are subtracted 
from operating assets.

The Group’s WACC is defined as the weighted average net cost of interest-bearing 
liabilities and equity, taking into account company-specific risk factors in a beta factor 
in accordance with the Capital Asset Pricing Model.

We apply a standard WACC of 8.5 % across the divisions and this also represents a 
minimum target for projects and investments within the Group. The WACC is generally 
adjusted to adhere to the current situation on the financial markets. However, the goal 
is not to match every short-term change but to reflect long-term trends. The WACC is 
reviewed once annually. The WACC used reflects company-specific risks and the net 
cost of interest-bearing liabilities and equity in the current market environment. As in 
previous years, we did not change the WACC in order to prevent our internal resource 
allocation from being influenced by short-term, minor fluctuations in capital market 
interest rates. A constant WACC also ensures that EAC is comparable with previous years.
In our reporting for the prior years, the net asset base was broken down into current 
and non-current assets and liabilities. In the year under review, the individual compo-
nents of the net asset base were regrouped to increase transparency for the drivers of 
asset charges in the context of internal and external reporting. The definition of the 
net asset base, the methods for calculating the asset charge and EAC have not changed.
EAC improved from €1,229 million to €1,323 million in 2012, primarily due to the 
DHL divisions’ rising profitability. The asset charge increased by 11.2 %, which was pre-
dominantly attributable to our high capital expenditures throughout the divisions.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

31

 
 
A.09  EBIT after asset charge (EAC)

€ m

EBIT

  asset charge

  EAC

2011

2,436

–1,207

1,229

2012

2,665

–1,342

1,323

+ / – %

9.4

–11.2

7.6

Our net asset base increased by €1,122 million to €15,478 million in the reporting 
year due, in part, to the Group’s investments in software and IT systems and the purchase 
of freight aircraft as well as replacement and expansion investments in warehouses, sort-
ing systems and our vehicle fleet. The 42.2 % increase in net working capital was mainly 
 attributable to the decline in liabilities and other items.

In addition, operating provisions recognised for restructuring in the US express busi-
ness were utilised or reversed, resulting in a €99 million increase in the net  asset base. 
Moreover, €249 million of the provisions recognised in previous years for  additional VAT 
payments was also utilised. Both factors had reduced our net asset base as operating 
provisions in the prior year.

A.10  Net asset base (unconsolidated)

€ m

intangible assets including goodwill and property, plant and equipment

  net working capital

   operating provisions (excluding provisions for pensions and similar 

obligations)

  other non-current assets and liabilities

  Net asset base

31 Dec. 2011  
adjusted 1

31 Dec. 2012 

+ / – % 

18,689

–774

–3,396

–163

14,356

18,860

– 447

–2,825

–110

15,478

0.9

– 42.2

–16.8

–32.5

7.8

1  Prior-year figures adjusted due to the regrouping of individual components of net assets.

32

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
Group Management Report
Deutsche Post Shares

DeutsCHe Post sHares

Good year on the stock market

At the beginning of the year, a positive sentiment prevailed in the equity markets due 
to the measures taken by the European Central Bank (ECB) to curb the sovereign debt 
crisis in Europe. The DAX also benefited from the comparatively positive performance 
of the German economy. However, over the course of the first half of the year, concerns 
over an economic crisis in Southern Europe rose and the global economy grew at a 
slower pace. This sent the international stock markets on a decline. The EURO STOXX 50 
and DAX each hit their annual low in June at 2,069 and 5,969 points, respectively. At the 
 beginning of the second half of the year, the ECB announced additional measures and 
the German Federal Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the permanent euro rescue 
fund. Stock markets displayed renewed optimism and made considerable gains by the 
end of the year. The DAX reached its annual high of 7,672 points on 20 December 2012 
– its highest level since January 2008. It ended the year at 7,612 points – a 29.1 % gain. 
The EURO STOXX 50 was up 13.8 % year-on-year. The Dow Jones closed 2012 with a gain 
of 7.3 % on account of the slight recovery in the US economy.

A.11  Deutsche Post shares: multi-year review

Year-end closing price

High

low

number of shares

Market capitalisation as at 31 December

2006

22.84

23.75

18.55

2007

23.51

25.65

19.95

2008

11.91

24.18

7.18

€

€

€

millions

€ m

1,204.0 1

27,461

1,208.2 1

28,388

1,209.0 1

14,399

2009

13.49

13.79

6.65

1,209.0

16,309

2010

12.70

14.46

11.18

1,209.0

15,354

2011

11.88

13.83

9.13

1,209.0

14,363

2012

16.60

16.66

11.88

1,209.0

20,069

average trading volume per day

shares

5,287,529

6,907,270

7,738,509

5,446,920

5,329,779

4,898,924

4,052,323

annual performance including dividends

annual performance excluding dividends

beta factor ²

earnings per share 3

Cash flow per share 4

Price-to-earnings ratio 5

Price-to-cash flow ratio 4, 6

Dividend

Payout ratio

Dividend per share

Dividend yield

%

%

€

€

€  m

%

€

%

14.9

11.5

0.80

1.60

3.28

14.3

7.0

903

47.1

0.75

3.3

6.9

2.9

0.68

1.15

4.27

20.4

5.5

1,087

78.6

0.90

3.8

– 45.5

– 49.3

0.81

–1.40

1.60

– 8.5

7.4

725

–

0.60

5.0

18.3

13.3

0.91

0.53

– 0.48

25.5

–28.1

725

112.6

0.60

4.4

–1.4

– 5.9

0.95

2.10

1.59

6.0

8.0

786

30.9

0.65

5.1

–1.3

– 6.5

1.19

0.96

1.96

12.4

6.1

846

72.7

0.70

5.9

45.6

39.7

0.88

1.37

– 0.17

12.1

– 98.9

846 7

51.0 8

0.70 7

4.2

 note 36.

1  increase due to exercise of stock options 
2  beta three years; source: bloomberg.
3  based on consolidated net profit after deduction of non-controlling interests 
4  Cash flow from operating activities.
5  Year-end closing price / earnings per share.
6  Year-end closing price / cash flow per share.
7  Proposal.
8  excluding extraordinary effects (Postbank, additional VAT payment, reversal of provisions: 53.3 %).

 note 21.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

33

 
 
 
 
 
A.12  Peer group comparison: closing prices

30 sep.  
2012

15.20

2.71

8.13

84.62

71.57

30 Dec.  
2012

16.60

2.92

8.43

91.72

73.73

106.20

110.00

+  /  –%

9.2

7.7

3.7

8.4

3.0

3.6

30 Dec.  
2011

11.88

2.46

5.77

83.51

73.19

30 Dec.  
2012

16.60

2.92

8.43

91.72

73.73

105.50

110.00

EUR

EUR

EUR

USD

USD

CHF

+ / –%

39.7

18.7

46.1

9.8

0.7

4.3

 Deutsche Post DHl

Postnl

TNT express

Fedex

UPS

Kuehne + nagel

A.13  Share price performance

Closing price: € 16.60

€

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

  9

  8

30 December 2011 

31 March 2012 

30 June 2012 

30 september 2012 

30 December 2012

   Deutsche Post 

  EURO STOXX 50 1 

  DAX 1

1  rebased to the closing price of Deutsche Post shares on 30 December 2011.

Deutsche Post shares considerably outgain the market

Deutsche Post shares performed positively over the course of 2012. The share price 
began the year at €11.88, which was also its lowest value. Boosted by the publication of 
our 2011 financial figures on 8 March 2012 and a good first quarter, our shares  resisted 
the market trend in the first half of the year. Our Capital Markets Day on 24 May also 
contributed to this. In  August, our interim report on the first half of the year and the 
upwardly adjusted forecast for the year led to further gains in the share price. In light of 
these conditions, on 6 September KfW Bankengruppe (KfW) placed 5 % of its Deutsche 
Post  shareholdings  with  investors.  After  we  published  our  third-quarter   financial 
 figures on 8 November, our share price again made gains. Moreover, the capital market 
 responded positively to the three bonds worth a total of €2.0 billion we placed with 
 national and international investors in  December. Our shares reached their annual high 
of €16.66 on 10 December 2012, closing the year at €16.60. This is a year-on-year gain 
of 39.7 %; our shares have performed much better than the DAX for the second year in 
a row. If we take into account the reinvested dividends, our shares achieved an annual 
yield of 45.6 % and are amongst the top ten on the DAX. Average daily trading volumes 
were down year-on-year to 4.1 million shares (previous year: 4.9 million shares).

  note 43.1

34

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group Management Report
Deutsche Post Shares

Majority of analysts give shares a “buy” rating

A.14  Shareholder structure 1

At the close of 2012, 24 analysts issued a “buy” recommendation on our shares – six 
less than the year before. Due to the strong share performance, more analysts expect 
profit-taking in the medium term. As a result, the number of hold ratings increased from 
three to eleven. Only two analysts recommended selling, one less than in the previous 
year. The average price target increased from €14.66 to €17.44 during the year.

Free float increases by 5 %

25.5 %  KfW Bankengruppe

  4.5 %  convertible bond 2

74.5 %  free float

63.7 %   institutional  

investors

10.8 %  private investors

On 6 September 2012, KfW sold 60 million Deutsche Post shares. This was the first 
placement since 2006 and it reduced KfW’s stake to 25.5 %; free float increased to 74.5 %. 
The share of our stock held by private investors rose year-on-year from 10.2 % to 10.8 %. 
Amongst identified institutional investors, the greatest number of shares continues to 
be held in the United Kingdom (13.8 %); the share of US investors increased to 12.3 % 
whilst that of institutional investors in Germany rose considerably to 11.7 % (previous 
year: 8.2 %). Our 25 largest institutional investors hold a total of 27.7 % of all issued shares. 

1  as at 31 December 2012.
2  on 23 July 2009 KfW issued a convertible bond 
on  Deutsche Post shares (volume: 54.1 million 
shares). investors can convert this bond from 
the first due date for interest until 30 July 2014.

A.15  Shareholder structure by region 1

12.3 %  USA

13.8 %  UK

25.9 %  other

48.0 %  germany

1  as at 31 December 2012.

Focused investor relations work appreciated

Boosted by our positive business performance, we successfully solidified the essen-
tial principles of our equity story in the reporting year. The strong growth in the parcel 
business was our focus in the MAIL division. In addition, two elements of uncertainty 
were removed with the collective agreement for employees in Germany and the increase 
in mail prices effective 1 January 2013, which was the first increase in 15 years. In the 
DHL divisions, investors and analysts appreciated our stable growth rate, especially our 
leading market position in Asia. We demonstrated the potential this position affords us 
in July at the launch of the North Asia Hub in Shanghai. At a Capital Markets Day on 
24 May in London and two tutorial workshops on the SUPPLY CHAIN division, which 
were held in London and Frankfurt am Main in November, we provided insights into 
our business model and, as a result, strengthened market confidence in the medium and 
long-term potential of our shares.

We also made a targeted effort to communicate directly with current and potential 
investors, holding a total of 534 separate meetings at national and international confer-
ences and roadshows, 164 of which involved members of our Board of Management. 
This dedicated work by our Investor Relations team was recognised again this year in 
the renowned Extel Survey conducted by Thomson Reuters. Our IR team won second 
place in the transport sector.

In Manager Magazin’s annual ranking, our 2011 Annual Report took third place 
amongst DAX companies. Above all, the jury praised how well we presented our busi-
ness model and equity story. The report also won a number of design awards, including 
the Red Dot, a silver in the Best of Corporate Publishing Award and a gold in the Gute 
Gestaltung (good design) contest held by the Deutsche Designer Club.

We redesigned our Investor Relations website at the end of 2011, which aimed at 
providing more precise and up-to-date information to analysts and investors. The site 
was ranked 17 th in the IR Global Rankings amongst 285 participating companies from 
around the world.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

35

 
 
eConoMiC Position

overall assessment by the board of Management

Good results achieved

We  are  very  satisfied  with  the  results  achieved  in  financial  year  2012. 
Deutsche Post DHL increased both revenue and margin. EBIT improved by nearly 10 % 
despite the negative impact of the additional VAT payment. Thanks to our presence in 
the world’s growth markets, the DHL divisions performed particularly dynamically. In 
the MAIL division, revenues were up significantly in the parcel business, which helped to 
compensate for moderate volume declines in the mail business. In the fourth quarter, the 
Group’s  earnings grew even more decidedly at a rate of nearly 40 %. Although operating 
cash flow was negatively impacted by extraordinary effects from the continued funding 
of pension liabilities, the Group’s financial position remains very solid in the opinion 
of the Board of Management.

significant events

Postbank sale completed

Upon maturity of the mandatory exchangeable bond and exercise of our put option 
in the first quarter, we transferred the remaining shares in Postbank to Deutsche Bank. 
Deutsche Post AG no longer holds any shares in Postbank.

Earnings unaffected by demand for repayment of state aid

Deutsche  Post  DHL  paid  the  €298 million  demanded  by  the  German  federal 
 government under the European Commission’s state aid ruling on 1 June 2012. In agree-
ment with the government, the amount has been paid into a trust account and has there-
fore only been recorded in the balance sheet; the Group’s earnings position remained 
unaffected.

EBIT impacted by additional VAT payment
The additional VAT payment demanded by the German tax authorities amounted to 
€482 million after deducting outstanding tax refund claims and was made by the end 
of the third quarter. Consolidated EBIT was impacted by €–181 million and net finance 
costs by interest expenses of €115 million during the reporting year given that we had 
already recognised provisions for a large part of the payment.

Provisions for restructuring of US express business reversed

A portion of the provisions recognised in connection with the restructuring of the 
US express business in 2009 has now been reassessed and reversed. This had a positive 
impact on EBIT in the amount of €99 million in the second quarter.

Pension funding improved
We took advantage of favourable conditions on the capital market to issue new bonds 
as well as a convertible bond for total proceeds of more than €3 billion. Most of the cash 
generated was used to continue funding our pension obligations.

  opportunities and risks, page 94 f.

  opportunities and risks, page 90

  note 43.1

36

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Economic Position
Earnings

earnings

A.16  Selected indicators for results of operations

revenue

Profit from operating activities (EBIT)

return on sales 1

Consolidated net profit for the period 2

earnings per share 3

Dividend per share

1  EBIT / revenue.
2  after deduction of non-controlling interests.
3  basic earnings per share.
4  Proposal.

€ m

€ m

%

€ m

€

€

2011

52,829

2,436

4.6

1,163

0.96

0.70

2012

55,512

2,665

4.8

1,658

1.37

0.70 4

  note 9

Changes in portfolio and reporting

In the first quarter of 2012, responsibility for the less-than-truckload and part-truck-
load business in the Czech Republic was transferred from the EXPRESS division to the 
GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division. The previous year’s segment reporting figures 
were adjusted accordingly.

During the second quarter, we sold our shares in the joint ventures Express Couriers 
Limited, New Zealand, and Parcel Direct Group Pty Limited, Australia, to our former 
joint venture partner New Zealand Post. In these markets, we are now focusing on the 
international express business with time-definite deliveries.

In July, we acquired intelliAd Media GmbH, a specialist in search engine advertising 
domiciled in Munich. The company has been assigned to the MAIL division, where it is 
helping us to position ourselves as a central provider of technological infrastructures 
for online advertising.

Due to a change in contractual arrangements, the joint venture Exel Saudia LLC, 
which was previously proportionately consolidated, was fully consolidated in the fourth 
quarter. The company is part of the SUPPLY CHAIN division.
There were no other significant changes in reporting.

Consolidated revenue up 5.1 %

A.17  Consolidated revenue

Consolidated revenue increased by 5.1 % to €55,512 million in financial year 2012 
(previous year: €52,829 million). The proportion of consolidated revenue generated 
abroad  grew  from  68.3 %  to  69.7 %,  with  positive  currency  effects  accounting  for 
€1,738 million of this increase. By contrast, changes in the portfolio reduced revenue 
by €216 million. In the fourth quarter, revenue rose 3.2 % to €14,577 million (previous 
year: €14,126 million). Changes in the portfolio reduced revenue by €34 million, whilst 
currency effects lifted it by €233 million.

Other operating income rose by 5.8 % to €2,168 million, mainly due to the reversal 

of surplus provisions and accruals.

€ m

2012

16,825 

38,687

2011

16,743 

36,086

  germany 

  abroad

  55,512

  52,829

Transport costs push up materials expense

Higher transport volumes, freight costs and fuel prices pushed up materials expense 

by €1,319 million to €31,863 million.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

37

 
 
 
 
Staff costs also increased, rising from €16,730 million to €17,770 million in the year 
under review. In the SUPPLY CHAIN division in particular, the increase in the business 
volume led to a rise in staff numbers. Currency effects also pushed up costs significantly.
At €1,339 million, depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses were €65 mil-
lion higher than in the previous year, principally as a result of investments made in the 
past.

Other operating expenses increased by €148 million to €4,043 million, mainly due 

to the additional VAT payment.

A.18  Development of revenue, other operating income and operating expenses

revenue 

€ m

55,512 

%  

5.1  • revenue increase, particularly in DHL divisions

• €1.7 billion in currency effects

other operating income 

2,168 

5.8  • increase mainly due to the reversal of surplus provisions 

and accruals

Materials expense 

31,863 

4.3  • Higher transport volumes

• Higher freight costs and fuel prices

staff costs 

17,770 

6.2  • increased number of staff, mostly in SUPPLY CHAIN

Depreciation, amortisation 
and impairment losses

• increase also due to currency effects

1,339 

5.1  • result of higher investments in the past 

other operating expenses

4,043

3.8 • increase mainly due to additional VAT payment

A.19  Consolidated EBIT

€ m

2012

2011

 Consolidated EBIT rises 9.4 % year-on-year
At €2,665 million, profit from operating activities (EBIT) was 9.4 % up on the prior- 
year figure (€2,436 million). In the fourth quarter, EBIT was €228 million higher year-
on-year at €827 million.

Net finance costs improved to €427 million (previous year: €777 million), mainly 

due to the disposal gain recorded on the Postbank sale.

Profit before income taxes increased from €1,659 million to €2,238 million. This 

caused income taxes to rise from €393 million to €458 million.

  2,665

  2,436

A.20  Total dividend and dividend  
per no-par value share

€ m

556

490

0.50

0.44

1,087

903

836

846

846

786

725 725

0.90

0.75

0.70

0.70 0.70

0.65

0.60 0.60

 03  04  05  06  07  08  09 

10 

11 

12 1

  Dividend per no-par value share (€)

1  Proposal.

Net profit and earnings per share improve

Consolidated net profit for the period rose from €1,266 million to €1,780 million. 
€1,658 million of this amount is attributable to shareholders of Deutsche Post AG and 
€122 million to non-controlling interest holders. Basic and diluted earnings per share 
also increased, up from €0.96 to €1.37 and €1.32 respectively.

Dividend of €0.70 per share proposed

At the Annual General Meeting on 29 May 2013, the Board of Management and the 
Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of €0.70 per share for financial year 2012 
(previous year: €0.70) to shareholders. The distribution ratio based on the consolidated 
net profit attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders amounts to 51.0 %. The net 
dividend yield based on the year-end closing price of our shares is 4.2 %. The dividend 
will be distributed on 30 May 2013 and is tax-free for shareholders resident in Germany.

38

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
Group Management Report
Economic Position
Financial position

Financial position

Financial management is a centralised function in the Group

The Group’s financial management activities include managing cash and liquidity; 
hedging interest rate, currency and commodity price risk; ensuring Group financing; 
issuing guarantees and letters of comfort and liaising with rating agencies. We steer 
processes centrally, allowing us to work efficiently and successfully manage risk.

Responsibility for these activities rests with Corporate Finance at Group headquar-
ters in Bonn, which is supported by three Regional Treasury Centres in Bonn (Germany), 
Weston (USA) and Singapore. These act as interfaces between headquarters and the 
operating companies, advise the companies on all financial management issues and 
ensure compliance with Group-wide requirements.

Corporate Finance’s main task is to minimise financial risk and the cost of capital, 
whilst preserving the Group’s lasting financial stability and flexibility. In order to main-
tain its unrestricted access to the capital markets, the Group continues to aim for a credit 
rating appropriate to the sector. We therefore monitor particularly closely the ratio of 
our operating cash flow to our adjusted debt. Adjusted debt refers to the Group’s net 
debt, allowing for unfunded pension obligations and liabilities under operating leases.

Maintaining financial flexibility and low cost of capital

The Group’s finance strategy builds on the principles and aims of financial manage-
ment. In addition to the interests of shareholders, the strategy also takes lender require-
ments into account. The goal is for the Group to maintain its financial flexibility and low 
cost of capital by ensuring a high degree of continuity and predictability for investors.
A key component of this strategy is a target rating of “BBB+”, which is managed 
via a dynamic performance metric known as funds from operations to debt (FFO to 
debt). Our strategy additionally includes a sustained dividend policy and clear priorities 
 regarding the use of excess liquidity, part of which was to be used to gradually increase 
plan assets of our German pension plans. However, due to the favourable capital mar-
ket conditions for companies with a high credit quality, at the end of 2012 the Group 
decided to increase plan assets via debt financing. In the future, excess liquidity will 
therefore be used for the continued gradual funding of pension liabilities, special divi-
dends and share buy-backs.

To increase plan assets, the Group placed a convertible bond with a volume of 
€1 billion and two conventional bonds with a total volume of likewise €1 billion on the 
market. Further information on the bonds issued is contained in the Notes. The funds 
obtained were transferred directly to an external pension vehicle managed by the Group. 
The plan assets covering pension obligations to German employees nearly doubled due 
to the transfer. The Group expects this move to improve its operating cash flow in future 
years and to also have a small positive impact on its financial result and net income. The 
transaction has no impact on our creditworthiness since the rating agencies already take 
unfunded pension liabilities into account in their analyses.

  note 43.1

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

39

A.21  Finance strategy

Credit rating

Investors

• reliable and consistent information  

from the company.

• Predictability of expected returns.

Group

• Preserve financial and strategic flexibility.
• assure low cost of capital (WACC) 1.

• Maintain “BBB +” and “baa 1” ratings, respectively.
• FFO to debt used as dynamic performance metric.

Dividend policy

• Pay out 40 % – 60 % of net profit.
• Consider cash flows and continuity.

Excess liquidity

1. increase plan assets of german pension plans.
2.  Pay out special dividends or execute share buy-back 

programme.

Debt portfolio

• syndicated credit facility taken out as liquidity reserve.
• Debt issuance programme established for issuing bonds.
• bonds could be issued to cover long-term capital 

requirement.

1  Weighted average cost of capital 

  group management, page 31 f.

Funds from operations (FFO) represents operating cash flow before changes in 
working capital plus interest and dividends received less interest paid and adjusted for 
operating leases, pensions and non-recurring income or expenses, as shown in the fol-
lowing calculation. In addition to financial liabilities and available cash and cash equiva-
lents, the figure for debt also includes operating lease liabilities as well as  unfunded 
pension liabilities.

A.22  FFO to debt

€ m

operating cash flow before changes in working capital

  interest and dividends received

  interest paid

  adjustment for operating leases

  adjustment for pensions

  non-recurring income / expenses

  Funds from operations (FFO)

reported financial liabilities

  Financial liabilities related to the sale of Deutsche Postbank AG

  Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

  adjustment for operating leases

  adjustment for pensions

  surplus cash and near-cash investments 1

  Debt

FFO to debt (%)

2011

2,234

72

163

1,104

153

208

3,608

7,010

4,344

137

5,295

5,639

2,286

2012

219

46

296

1,243

130

2,671

4,013

4,816

0

117

5,187

4,509

1,224

11,177

13,171

32.3

30.5

1  surplus cash and near-cash investments are defined as cash and cash equivalents and investment funds callable at sight,  

less cash needed for operations.

40

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
Group Management Report
Economic Position
Financial position

The “FFO to debt” dynamic performance metric declined versus the prior year, since 
even the improvement in funds from operations was not sufficient to offset the increase 
in debt.

Funds from operations increased by a total of €405 million to €4,013 million in 
the year under review. Even though operating cash flow before changes in working 
capital decreased significantly, the decline was attributable to the one-time increase in 
the plan assets of German pension plans (€1,986 million) and portions of the  additional 
VAT  payment  (€384 million).  Since  the  related  effects  are  non-recurring,  they  were 
 recorded under non-recurring income / expenses, which also includes operating restruc-
turing payments (€140 million) and the interest effects of the additional VAT payment 
(€161 million).

Although business performance was positive in the reporting year, debt rose by 
€1,994 million to €13,171 million year-on-year. The primary reasons for the increase were 
the lower discount rates and the related increase in the present value of pension obliga-
tions, the additional VAT payment (€482 million) and the payment made in connection 
with the state aid proceedings (€298 million). Whereas the last two items reduced sur-
plus cash and near-cash investments, the lower discount rates for pension obligations 
increased the “adjustment for pensions” considerably. However, due to the one-time, 
debt-financed increase in plan assets in the amount of €1,986 million, this item declined 
by a total of €1,130 million to €4,509 million. More information on the financial liabilities 
reported is contained in the Notes.

Cash and liquidity managed centrally

The cash and liquidity of our globally active subsidiaries is managed centrally by 
Corporate Treasury. Approximately 80 % of the Group’s external revenue is  consolidated 
in cash pools and used to balance internal liquidity needs. In countries where this 
practice is ruled out for legal reasons, internal and external borrowing and investment 
are  arranged centrally by Corporate Treasury. In this context, we observe a balanced 
banking policy in order to remain independent of individual banks. Our sub sidiaries’ 
intra- group revenue is also pooled and managed by our in-house bank in order to 
avoid  external bank charges and margins through intercompany clearing. Payment 
trans actions are executed in accordance with uniform guidelines using standardised 
processes and IT systems.

Limiting market risk

The Group uses both primary and derivative financial instruments to limit market 
risk. Interest rate risk is managed exclusively via swaps. Currency risk is additionally 
hedged using forward transactions, cross-currency swaps and options. We pass on most 
of the risk arising from commodity fluctuations to our customers and, to some extent, 
use commodity swaps to manage the remaining risk. The parameters, responsibilities 
and controls governing the use of derivatives are laid down in internal guidelines.

Flexible and stable financing

The Group covers its long-term financing requirements by maintaining a balanced 
ratio of equity to liabilities. This ensures our financial stability as well as providing 
adequate flexibility. Our most important source of funds is net cash from operating 
activities.

  note 43

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

41

  note 43.1

In view of our solid liquidity, the five-year syndicated credit facility with a total 
volume of €2 billion was not drawn down during the year under review. This facility 
guarantees us favourable market conditions and acts as a secure, long-term liquidity 
reserve. It does not contain any covenants concerning the Group’s financial indicators.
As part of our banking policy, we spread our business volume widely and main-
tain long-term relationships with the financial institutions we entrust with our busi-
ness. In addition to credit lines, we meet our borrowing requirements through other 
 independent sources of financing, such as bonds and operating leases. Most debt is 
taken out centrally in order to leverage economies of scale and specialisation benefits 
and hence to minimise the cost of capital.

In  view  of  our  long-term  capital  requirements,  in  2012  we  established  a  Debt 
 Issuance Programme with a volume of up to €5 billion. This offers us the possibility of 
issuing bonds in customised tranches up to a stipulated total amount and enables us 
to react flexibly to changing market conditions. In June, we issued two bonds with a 
total volume of €1.25 billion under the programme for refinancing purposes. This was 
followed in December by two more conventional bonds totalling €1 billion as part of 
increasing the plan assets of German pension plans. The €1 billion convertible bond 
also used for this purpose was not issued under the Debt Issuance Programme. Further 
information on the various bonds is contained in the Notes.

Group issues sureties, letters of comfort and guarantees

Deutsche Post AG provides security for the loan agreements, leases and supplier 
contracts entered into by Group companies, associates or joint ventures by issuing letters 
of comfort, sureties or guarantees as needed. This practice allows better conditions to 
be negotiated locally. The sureties are provided and monitored centrally.

Creditworthiness of the Group remains adequate

Credit ratings represent an independent and current assessment of a company’s 
credit standing. The ratings are based on a quantitative analysis and measurement of 
the annual report and appropriate planning data. Qualitative factors, such as industry- 
specific features and the company’s market position and range of products and services, 
are also taken into account.

The Group has a Moody’s Investors Service credit rating of “Baa 1”. At the end of 
 September, the rating agency raised its outlook from “stable” to “positive” as a result of the 
continued successful business performance and the improvement in key credit metrics.
At the end of November, we cancelled our longstanding rating agreement with 
Standard & Poor’s for commercial reasons effective immediately, upon which the agency 
confirmed our “BBB +” rating with a stable outlook and then withdrew it.

Since November, we have relied on Fitch Ratings alongside Moody’s to assess the 
creditworthiness of our Group. Fitch assigned a “BBB +” rating with a stable outlook 
based on our financial stability and outstanding market position in global logistics and 
in the German mail and parcel market.

42

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Economic Position
Financial position

This means that the capacity of the Group to meet its financial obligations  continues 
to be classified as adequate. Deutsche Post DHL is well positioned in the transport and 
logistics sector with these ratings. The following table shows the ratings as at the report-
ing date and the underlying factors. The complete and current analyses by the rating 
agencies and the rating categories can be found on our website.

  dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html

A.23  Agency ratings

Fitch Ratings

long-term: BBB +
short-term: F 2
outlook: stable

Moody’s Investors 
Service

long-term: baa 1
short-term: P – 2
outlook: positive

 Rating factors

 Rating factors

• Well-integrated business profile.
• Dominant position in the domestic 

mail and parcel market. 

• exposure to regulatory and litigation 
risks (i. e., EU antitrust and state aid 
investigations).

• strong global footprint in the EXPRESS, 

• structural volume decline in the 

MAIL division due to secular changes 
in the industry (i. e., competition 
from electronic communication and 
digitalisation).

• High exposure to global market 

 volatility through the DHL divisions.

• exposure to global macroeconomic 
trends in the express and logistics 
sectors.

• Declining mail volumes due to mar-
ket liberalisation and the general 
 substitution of traditional mail 
items with electronic communication.

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT and 
SUPPLY CHAIN businesses.

• improvements in the financial profile 
after the completion of the sale of 
Postbank shares.

• recovery of the express business’s 
profits and market share, offsetting 
the challenging macroeconomic 
environment.

• scale and global presence as the 
world’s largest logistics company.

• large and relatively robust mail 

 business in germany.

• success in restoring profitability of 
logistics activities while reducing 
negative regulatory and e-substitution 
effects on the MAIL division.

• Conservative financial policy and 

sound liquidity profile of the group.

• success in strengthening credit 

metrics following the completion of 
the disposal of Deutsche Postbank 
(€4.3 billion of debt eliminated 
from the balance sheet at the end of 
 February 2012).

Liquidity and sources of funds

As at the balance sheet date, the Group had cash and cash equivalents in the amount 
of €2.4 billion (previous year: €3.1 billion) at its disposal. A large portion of this is 
 accounted for by Deutsche Post AG. Most of the cash is invested centrally on the money 
market. These short-term money market investments had a volume of €0.8 billion as 
at the balance sheet date.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

43

 
The financial liabilities reported in our balance sheet break down as follows:

A.24  Financial liabilities

€ m

bonds

Due to banks

Finance lease liabilities

liabilities to group companies

liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

other

2011

1,659

163

175

102

137

4,774

7,010

2012

4,109

137

149

93

117

211

4,816

The decline in financial liabilities is primarily the result of completing the sale of 
Postbank to Deutsche Bank, which reduced other financial liabilities by approximately 
€4.3 billion. By contrast, financial liabilities from bonds rose significantly, primarily 
due to the two conventional bonds and one convertible bond with a total volume of 
approximately €2 billion issued in connection with the debt-financed increase in plan 
assets. Further information on recognised financial liabilities is contained in the Notes.

Operating leases remain an important source of funding for the Group. We mainly 
use operating leases to finance real estate but also aircraft, vehicle fleets and IT equipment.

A.25  Operating lease liabilities by asset class

€ m

land and buildings

aircraft

technical equipment and machinery

other equipment, operating and office equipment, transport equipment, miscellaneous

2011

5,294

765

80

486

2012

5,100

647

65

513

6,625

6,325

Operating  lease  obligations  decreased  year-on-year  to  €6.3 billion  because  the 
 reduction in the remaining terms of legacy agreements, especially for real estate and 
aircraft, is not matched by the same volume of new leases.

Capital expenditure of €1.7 billion at prior-year level

As at the end of 2012, the Group’s aggregate capital expenditure (capex) amounted 
to €1,697 million and was thus at the same level as in the previous year (€1,716 mil-
lion). Funds were used mainly to replace and increase assets as follows: €1,393 million 
was  invested in property, plant and equipment and €304 million in intangible assets 
 excluding goodwill. Investments in property, plant and equipment related primarily to 
advance payments and assets under development (€613 million), transport equipment 
(€278 million), technical equipment and machinery (€138 million), aircraft (€116 mil-
lion) and IT equipment (€95 million).

  note 43

A.26  Capex by region

€ m

germany

americas

  259

  203

europe (excluding germany)

  259

  248

asia Pacific

  160

  152

other regions

  40

  56

  2012 

  2011

  979

  1,057

44

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
Group Management Report
Economic Position
Financial position

Regionally, we invested in modernising and expanding our fixed assets, above all 
in Europe and North America. At the same time we increased expenditures in the Asia 
Pacific region and Latin America compared with the prior year.

A.27  Capex and depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses, full year

MAIL 

2012 

332

334

2011 
adjusted

601

334

EXPRESS

2012 

597

400

2011 

433

354

GLOBAL  FORWARDING, 
FREIGHT

SUPPLY CHAIN

Corporate Center /  
other

group

2011 
adjusted

136

104

2012 

2011 

2012 

2011 

2012 

2011 

2012 

150

111

252

287

300

288

294

195

318

1,716

1,697

206

1,274

1,339

1.22

0.99

1.80

1.49

1.31

1.35

0.88

1.04

1.51

1.54

1.35

1.27

Capex (€ m)

Depreciation, amortisation 
and impairment losses (€ m)

ratio of capex to depre-
ciation, amortisation and 
impairment losses

A.28  Capex and depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses, Q 4

MAIL 

2012 

141

87

2011 
adjusted

244

87

EXPRESS

2012 

173

100

2011 

200

119

GLOBAL  FORWARDING, 
FREIGHT

SUPPLY CHAIN

Corporate Center /  
other

group

2011 
adjusted

62

27

2012 

2011 

2012 

2011 

2012 

2011 

2012 

54

28

73

78

85

75

96

49

109

59

675

360

562

349

1.68

1.62

2.80

1.73

2.30

1.93

0.94

1.13

1.96

1.85

1.88

1.61

Capex (€ m)

Depreciation, amortisation 
and impairment losses (€ m)

ratio of capex to depre-
ciation, amortisation and 
impairment losses

MAIL expands parcel network

A.29  Capex by segment

Capex in the MAIL division fell in the reporting year from €433 million to €332 mil-
lion. Investments related in particular to technical equipment and machinery, IT, other 
operating and office equipment as well as software. We focused mainly on expanding 
our parcel network as part of our Production Concept 2012 initiative and adapting 
network capacities to increasing shipment volumes. We also expanded our network of 
Packstations and our fulfilment business. In addition, we restructured our retail outlet 
network and further developed electronic platforms, including our E-Postbrief product. 
Flexible IT structures and systems were established for this purpose.

EXPRESS renews and expands infrastructure

In  the  EXPRESS  division,  capex  remained  stable  at  €597 million  (previous  year, 
 adjusted: €601 million). To continue solidifying our market leadership, we focused 
on modernising and renewing our aircraft fleet. Therefore, in Aviation investments of 
€345 million were made for aircraft, their regulatory maintenance and related advance 
payments. We continued to strengthen our ground network infrastructure: the North 
Asia Hub in Shanghai was completed, the hubs in Cincinnati and Mexico were expanded 
and terminals in Italy were modernised.

€ m

MAIL

EXPRESS

  332

  433

  597

  601

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

  150

  136

SUPPLY CHAIN

  300

  252

Corporate Center / other

  318

  294

  2012 

  2011

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

45

 
 
 
 
 
GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT improves IT solutions

In the GLOBAL  FORWARDING,  FREIGHT division, capex increased in the report-
ing year from €136 million ( adjusted) to €150 million. Of this figure, €117 million was 
 attributable to the Global Forwarding business unit, where we modernised and refitted 
warehouses across all regions. We also improved IT solutions, especially those for the 
new Forwarding environment project. A total of €33 million was invested in the Freight 
business unit, with the largest projects relating to buildings in Northern and Eastern 
Europe. In Germany our primary investments were mainly in the purchase of software 
as well as new office and IT equipment.

SUPPLY CHAIN invests in new business

In the SUPPLY CHAIN division, capex amounted to €300 million, which was 19 % 
higher than the €252 million reported in the previous year. Of this amount, €276 million 
related to the Supply Chain business unit, €21 million to the Williams Lea business unit 
and €3 million to central entities. Approximately 65 % of the funds were used to support 
new business worldwide. In the Americas region investments were made primarily in 
new business in the Consumer, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Retail sectors. In the UK, 
capital expenditure focused on new business projects and the replacement of vehicles 
in the Consumer and Life Sciences & Healthcare sectors. Additional investments were 
made in a new mega hub in Hong Kong as well as in customer projects in the Asia Pacific 
region. In the Williams Lea business unit, we invested primarily in IT.

Cross-divisional investments continue to increase

Cross-divisional capital expenditure for Corporate Center / Other (consisting mainly 
of Global Business Services) rose from €294 million to €318 million in the reporting year. 
The purchase of vehicles and IT investments accounted for the highest share of expend-
iture. Whilst expenses for vehicles fell slightly, IT investments increased significantly, 
above all due to licence purchases.

Pension funding reduces operating cash flow

Net cash used in operating activities amounted to €203 million in 2012. By contrast, 
a net cash inflow of €2,371 million was generated in the previous year. Net cash from 
operating activities before changes in working capital declined by €2,015 million to 
€219 million. This was largely due to the fact that we used the funds raised on the capital 
market to fund our pension obligations and utilised pension provisions accordingly. We 
also utilised provisions for the additional VAT payment. Although the improved EBIT 
raised cash flow from operating activities, higher income tax payments reduced operat-
ing cash flow. Non-cash income and expense amounted to €97 million. This  increased 
EBIT but did not affect cash flow. The changes in working capital led to a cash outflow of 
€422 million (previous year: cash inflow of €137 million). The change in  liabilities and 
other items in particular made a significant contribution to this development.

  strategic focus, page 100 f.

A.30  Operating cash flow by division, 
2012

€ m

MAIL

  –1,445

EXPRESS

  1,102

GLOBAL FORWARDING, 
FREIGHT

  647

SUPPLY CHAIN

  432

46

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
Group Management Report
Economic Position
Financial position

A.31  Selected cash flow indicators

€ m

Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December

Change in cash and cash equivalents

net cash from / used in operating activities

net cash used in investing activities

net cash used in / from financing activities

2011

3,123

–305

2,371

–1,129

–1,547

2012

2,400

–701

–203

–1,697

1,199

At €1,697 million, net cash used in investing activities was up €568 million year-
on-year. Investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets were the 
most significant item in this area, amounting to €1,639 million; these investments are 
described above. In addition, the recognition of the demand for repayment of state aid 
as a non-current financial asset in the balance sheet reduced cash flow from investing 
 activities by €298 million. Disposals of non-current assets resulted in a net cash inflow of 
€299 million, higher than the previous year’s figure (€285 million). In the previous year, 
a cash inflow of €403 million from the change in current financial assets was recorded, 
primarily as a result of the sale of money market funds. In contrast, a cash outflow of 
€10 million was recorded in the year under review.

A.32  Calculation of free cash flow

€ m

Net cash from / used in operating activities

sale of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

2011

2,371

211

2012

–203

225

acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

–1,716

–1,639

Q4 2011

Q4 2012

1,262

17

– 646

– 629

76

– 542

Cash outflow arising from change in property, plant 
and equipment and intangible assets

Disposal of subsidiaries and other business units

acquisition of subsidiaries and other business units

Cash outflow arising from acquisitions / divestments

interest received

interest paid

Net interest paid

Free cash flow

–1,505

–1,414

– 629

– 466

58

– 84

–26

72

–163

– 91

39

– 57

–18

46

–296

–250

749

–1,885

–1

–14

–15

17

–27

–10

608

–1

–1

–2

10

–26

–16

–1,113

Free cash flow decreased significantly year-on-year from €749 million to €–1,885 mil-
lion. In the fourth quarter, it fell from €608 million in the comparable prior-year period 
to €–1,113 million.

Net cash from financing activities amounted to €1,199 million in the year under 
review, compared with a net cash outflow of €1,547 million in the previous year. The 
cash inflow of €3,176 million from the issuance of non-current financial liabilities is 
primarily attributable to the new bonds and a convertible bond that were placed on the 
market. Conversely, the redemption of a bond that matured in October led to a cash 
outflow of €679 million. The dividend payment to our shareholders increased again, 
from €786 million to €846 million. The proceeds from issuing shares or other equity 
instruments amounted to €74 million. The equity component of the convertible bond 
is recognised in this item.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

47

 
 
Compared with 31 December 2011, cash and cash equivalents fell from €3,123 mil-
lion to €2,400 million due to the changes in the cash flows from the individual activities.

assets and liabilities

A.33  Selected indicators for net assets

equity ratio

net liquidity (–) / net debt (+)

net interest cover

FFO to debt 1

1  Calculation 

  Financial position, page 40.

%

€ m

%

2011

29.2

– 938

26.8

32.3

2012

35.6

1,952

10.7

30.5

Consolidated total assets decrease

The  Group’s  total  assets  amounted  to  €34,121 million  as  at  31 December 2012, 

€4,287 million lower than at 31 December 2011.

The  sale  of  Postbank  to  Deutsche  Bank  was  completed  at  the  end  of  February 
and all of the associated financial instruments, assets held for sale and liabilities were 
 derecognised.

As  at  the  reporting  date,  non-current  assets  amounted  to  €21,832 million, 
€607 million higher than at 31 December 2011. Intangible assets declined by €45 mil-
lion to €12,151 million, mainly due to a decrease in goodwill resulting from currency 
effects. The €170 million rise in property, plant and equipment to €6,663 million is 
mainly   attributable  to  investments  in  vehicles  and  aircraft.  Non-current  financial 
 assets  increased by €310 million year-on-year to €1,039 million, primarily because the 
€298 million demanded as repayment of state aid was paid into a trust account. Other 
non-current assets rose by €63 million to €633 million, mainly due to the increase in 
pension assets. At €1,257 million, deferred tax assets were up €104 million on the figure 
as at 31 December 2011.

Current assets decreased by €4,894 million to €12,289 million as at the reporting 
date. Above all, the completion of the sale of all Postbank shares caused current  financial 
assets to decline from €2,498 million to €252 million. The transfer of the remaining 
Postbank shares to Deutsche Bank also significantly reduced the assets held for sale, 
from €1,961 million to €76 million. At €9,112 million, receivables and other current 
 assets remained at the prior-year level. Cash and cash equivalents declined by €723 mil-
lion to €2,400 million.

At  €11,951 million,  equity  attributable  to  Deutsche  Post  AG  shareholders  was 
€942 million  higher  than  at  31 December 2011  (€11,009 million).  Consolidated  net 
profit for the period increased equity, whilst the dividend payment to our shareholders 
reduced it.

48

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
Group Management Report
Economic Position
Assets and liabilities

Current and non-current liabilities declined by €2,550 million to €15,651 million. 
It was mainly the sale of the remaining Postbank shares and the repayment of a bond 
that fell due in October that reduced current financial liabilities by €5,241 million to 
€403 million. By contrast, non-current financial liabilities increased to €4,413 million, 
mainly as a result of the issuance of several bonds with a total volume of €2,232 mil-
lion and a convertible bond in the amount of €920 million. Overall financial liabilities 
were €2,194 million lower than at 31 December 2011, at €4,816 million. Trade payables 
were reduced by €177 million to €5,991 million. In addition, other current liabilities 
declined by €102 million to €4,004 million. Current and non-current provisions fell 
from €9,008 million to €6,306 million, mainly because pension provisions were utilised 
to fund pension obligations. We also reassessed and utilised restructuring provisions 
recognised in previous years. Further provisions were utilised in connection with the 
additional VAT payment.

Net debt amounts to €1,952 million

As at 31 December 2012, our net debt amounted to €1,952 million. Our net liquid-
ity of €938 million as at 31 December 2011 was reduced in particular by the dividend 
payment (€846 million), the prepaid annual contribution to Bundes-Pensions-Service 
(€530 million), the additional VAT payment (€482 million) and the amount demanded 
as repayment of state aid that was transferred to a trust account (€298 million). In ad-
dition, the funding of pension obligations increased non-current liabilities. The equity 
ratio  improved by 6.4 percentage points to 35.6 %, primarily due to the disposal of Post-
bank. Net  interest cover shows the extent to which net interest obligations are covered by 
EBIT. This  indicator fell from 26.8 to 10.7, mainly because of the interest expense from 
the  additional VAT payment. Net gearing was 13.8 % at 31 December 2012.

A.34  Net liquidity (–) / net debt (+)

€ m

non-current financial liabilities

  Current financial liabilities

  Financial liabilities

  Cash and cash equivalents

  Current financial assets

  long-term deposits 1

  Positive fair value of non-current financial derivatives 1

  Financial assets

  Financial liabilities to Williams lea minority shareholders

  Mandatory exchangeable bond 2

  Collateral for the put option 2

  net effect from measurement of Postbank derivatives 3

  non-cash adjustments

net liquidity (–) / net debt (+)

1  reported in non-current financial assets in the balance sheet.
2  reported in current financial liabilities in the balance sheet.
3  reported in current financial assets and liabilities in the balance sheet.

2011

1,346

5,588

6,934

3,123

2,498

56

94

5,771

36

2,926

1,298

2,159

2,101

– 938

2012

4,399

377

4,776

2,400

252

57

115

2,824

0

0

0

0

0

1,952

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

49

 
DiVisions

overview

A.35  Key figures by operating division

€ m

MAIL

revenue

of which Mail Communication

Dialogue Marketing

Press services

Value-added services

Parcel germany

retail outlets

global Mail 

Pension service

Consolidation / other

Profit from operating activities (EBIT)

return on sales (%) 1

operating cash flow

EXPRESS

revenue

of which europe

americas

asia Pacific

MEA (Middle east and africa)

Consolidation / other

Profit from operating activities (EBIT)

return on sales (%) 1

operating cash flow

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

revenue

of which global Forwarding

Freight

Consolidation / other

Profit from operating activities (EBIT)

return on sales (%) 1

operating cash flow

SUPPLY CHAIN

revenue

of which supply Chain

Williams lea

Consolidation / other

Profit from operating activities (EBIT)

return on sales (%) 1

operating cash flow

1  EBIT / revenue.

2011  
adjusted

2012 

+ / – % 

Q4 2011 
adjusted

Q4 2012 

+ / – % 

13,973

5,430

2,605

782

238

3,179

822

1,693

100

– 876

1,107

7.9

924

13,972

5,236

2,497

744

236

3,477

850

1,712

101

– 881

1,051

7.5

–1,445

11,691

12,778

5,361

1,887

3,718

856

–131

916

7.8

1,132

15,118

11,094

4,162

–138

440

2.9

670

13,223

11,999

1,225

–1

362

2.7

394

5,614

2,276

4,301

961

–374

1,108

8.7

1,102

15,666

11,604

4,192

–130

512

3.3

647

14,340

13,000

1,345

– 5

416

2.9

432

0.0

–3.6

– 4.1

– 4.9

– 0.8

9.4

3.4

1.1

1.0

– 0.6

– 5.1

–

–

9.3

4.7

20.6

15.7

12.3

< –100

21.0

–

–2.7

3.6

4.6

0.7

5.8

16.4

–

–3.4

8.4

8.3

9.8

< –100

14.9

–

9.6

3,853

1,458

690

201

66

972

226

467

23

–250

246

6.4

487

3,100

1,414

489

996

232

–31

244

7.9

452

3,957

2,907

1,085

–35

130

3.3

262

3,548

3,182

367

–1

73

2.1

183

3,851

1,381

675

189

64

1,038

229

496

23

–244

373

9.7

–1,415

3,342

1,482

602

1,121

239

–102

279

8.3

495

3,989

2,942

1,081

–34

166

4.2

237

3,733

3,391

345

–3

115

3.1

275

– 0.1

– 5.3

–2.2

– 6.0

–3.0

6.8

1.3

6.2

0.0

2.4

51.6

–

–

7.8

4.8

23.1

12.6

3.0

< –100

14.3

–

9.5

0.8

1.2

– 0.4

2.9

27.7

–

– 9.5

5.2

6.6

– 6.0

< –100

57.5

–

50.3

50

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DeutsCHe Post

as europe’s largest postal company, we deliver more than 
64 million letters and transport more than three million parcels 
every working day in germany alone. our core market of 
 germany is not the only place in which we offer our services. 
We also transport mail and parcels internationally. 

Mail

Business units and products

Customers

40 million households

3 million business customers

2 million retail outlet customers  
per working day

Network in Germany

82 mail centres

33 parcel centres

approximately 2,500 Packstations

approximately 1,000 Paketboxes

over 20,000 retail outlets and points of sale 

More than 64 million letters per working day

More than 3 million parcels per working day

Mail Communication

Mail products

special services

Franking

Philately

Dialogue Marketing

advertising mail

tailored end-to-end solutions

special services

Press Services

Press distribution services

special services

Value-Added Services

Mailroom services

Printing services

Document management

Parcel Germany

Parcel products

special services

Packstations

MeinPaket.de

Global Mail

Mail import and export

Cross-border mail and parcels

Mail services in domestic markets outside 
of germany

special services

Pension Service

Database administration

Payment processes

MAIL division

business units anD MarKet Positions

The postal service for Germany

Deutsche  Post  DHL  is  Europe’s  largest  postal  company.  We  deliver  more  than 
64 million letters every working day in Germany alone. We offer all types of products 
and services to both private and business customers, ranging from physical, hybrid 
and electronic letters and merchandise to special services such as cash on delivery and 
registered mail. Availability for our customers is always our number one priority: today, 
our customers can purchase stamps at retail outlets, points of sale, stamp dispensers, 
online and via text message.

Our E-Postbrief product provides a secure, confidential and reliable platform for 
electronic communication. It can be used for everything from personalised customer 
communication to bulk mailing. E-Postbrief allows companies, public authorities and 
private individuals not only to meet high security standards but also to reduce process-
ing costs.

Our mail business is focused on Germany, where the mail market has been fully 
liberalised since the beginning of 2008. Since July 2010, we have been required to apply 
value added tax to revenues generated from business customers. Competition has inten-
sified considerably as a result, whilst at the same time the increasing use of electronic 
communication is resulting in a continuing shrinkage of the German mail market. In 
the year under review, the market for business communications was approximately 
€4.2 billion (previous year: €4.3 billion). In order to more precisely reflect actual mar-
ket conditions, we report on the competitive business customer market. We therefore 
indicate those companies that are service providers to business customers, i. e., both 
competitors who offer end-to-end solutions as well as consolidators who offer partial 
services. Our market share declined slightly from 63.7 % to 62.7 %.

Targeted and cross-media advertising

Companies can use our solutions to design and print advertising mail themselves 
and send it at reasonable rates via our company. Dialogue marketing is only effective 
if addresses are updated constantly without breaching data protection regulations. We 
provide our customers with online tools and services to ensure the quality of their 
addresses and for the efficient identification of target groups. Companies may rent the 
addresses of these identified target groups from us for their own advertising campaigns 
as needed. We also offer customers a broad range of digital dialogue marketing solutions 
to use for cross-media and targeted advertising.

The German dialogue marketing market comprises advertising mail along with 
telephone and e-mail marketing. In the reporting year, this market shrank by 4.3 % 
year-on-year to a volume of €17.7 billion (previous year: €18.5 billion). Some companies 
considerably reduced advertising expenditure, especially in the mail-order business – 
which included, for instance, the insolvency of Neckermann. We were able to maintain 
our share of this highly fragmented market at 13.5 %, despite the difficult environment.

A.36  Domestic mail communication 
market, business customers, 2012

Market volume: €4.2 billion

37.3 %  Competition

62.7 %  Deutsche Post

source: company estimate.

A.37  Domestic dialogue  
marketing market, 2012

Market volume: €17.7 billion

13.5 %  Deutsche Post

86.5 %  Competition

source: company estimate.

52

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
Group Management Report
Divisions
MAIL division

  glossary, page 218

  glossary, page 218

A.38  Domestic press services  
market, 2012

Market volume: 15.1 billion items

11.4 %  Deutsche Post

88.6 %  Competition

source: company estimate.

A.39  Domestic parcel market, 2012

Market volume: €7.8 billion

40.9 %  DHL

59.1 %  Competition

source: company estimate.

Press distribution services

We deliver newspapers and magazines throughout Germany and on the day speci-
fied by the customer. Our Press Services business unit offers customers two main prod-
ucts in this context: preferred periodicals, which is the traditional method publishers use to 
post the publications to which their customers have subscribed, and standard  periodicals, 
which  companies  primarily  use  to  distribute  customer  or  employee  magazines  via 
Deutsche Post DHL. We also partner with publishers to sell subscriptions to more than 
500 press products both online and offline as part of our Deutsche Post Leserservice, 
a service that has seen much success. Our special services include electronic address 
updating as well as complaint and quality management. In addition, we offer publishers 
and journalists an online marketplace for journalistic content: DieRedaktion.de.

According to company estimates, the German press services market had a total vol-
ume of 15.1 billion items in 2012, a decline of 5.0 % on the prior year. Some newspapers 
and magazines have been discontinued, or circulation figures or weights have decreased. 
Our competitors are mainly companies that deliver regional daily newspapers. In an 
overall shrinking market, we continued to maintain our share at 11.4 %.

Value-added services support mail communications

Our customers entrust us with components of their mail communications value 
chain.  For  instance,  we  operate  their  mailrooms  and  provide  them  with  printing, 
 enveloping and scanning services.

Posting and collecting parcels anytime and anywhere

Our  network  comprises  over  20,000  retail  outlets  and  points  of  sale,  around 
2,500 Packstations and around 1,000 Paketboxes. On the whole we transport more 
than three million parcels and small packages within Germany every working day.

Private customers can go online to purchase shipping boxes from us, buy postage for 
parcels, place collection orders, track items and choose how they would like to  receive 
them via the paket.de portal. For business customers we transport catalogues, goods and 
returns. We support both online buyers and sellers, a business that continues to boom, 
from the moment the order is placed and the purchase is made to shipping the product 
and hedging against non-payment. At our shopping portal, MeinPaket.de, we offer small 
and medium-sized retailers in particular an online platform to sell their products. We 
also offer our customers in Germany transport services for heavy shipments, such as 
furniture or large appliances.

As a strategic investor in All you need GmbH, we continue to develop the logistics 

infrastructure for delivering food in Germany.

The German parcel market volume totalled around €7.8 billion in 2012, nearly 6.3 % 
more than the prior year. For years now, e-commerce has been the most important driver 
of growth. In 2012, business customer volumes again experienced double-digit growth 
and had a positive impact on growth in the mail-order and parcel services businesses. 
Overall, our market share in the reporting year was approximately 40.9 %.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

53

 
 
A.40  International mail market 
( outbound), 2012

Market volume: €6.8 billion

15.8 %  DHL

84.2 %  Competition

source: company estimate.

  glossary, page 218

Sending mail and parcels internationally

In addition to our core service market of Germany, we also carry mail and parcels 
across borders and offer international dialogue marketing services. In addition, we serve 
business customers in key domestic mail markets, including the United States and China. 
We meanwhile also offer return services to online retailers in 21 European countries.

We set ourselves apart from the competition by offering innovative products that 
respond to customer and market needs. Our portfolio includes international physical, 
hybrid and electronic written communications, giving customers the flexibility to decide 
what best suits their needs. Foreign customers tap into our expertise and experience in 
order to do business successfully in the German market. We are developing international 
parcel solutions for the growing e-commerce sector.

The  global  market  volume  for  outbound  international  mail  was  approximately 
€6.8 billion in 2012 (previous year: €6.9 billion). The decline in simple letters and press 
products could only be compensated for in part by the increase in heavy items. Despite 
the difficult environment, we were able to slightly increase our market share from 15.7 % 
to 15.8 %.

reVenue anD earnings PerForManCe

Revenue at prior-year level on fewer working days

Despite three fewer working days, revenue in the year under review was €13,972 mil-
lion and thus on par with the prior year’s figure of €13,973 million. The fourth quarter 
contained two fewer working days than the same period in the prior year. Overall, we 
recorded positive currency effects of €48 million in 2012.

Reductions in volumes also due to fewer working days

In  the  Mail  Communication  business  unit,  the  volume  of  letters  we  delivered 
 declined overall by 3.0 % year-on-year. Private customer volumes were down much more 
than business customer volumes. In addition to the trend towards electronic communi-
cation, the fewer working days, above all, had a noticeably negative impact. Revenue in 
the reporting year decreased from €5,430 million to €5,236 million; in the fourth quarter 
revenue was 5.3 % below the prior year. Even though we retained and acquired quali-
ty-conscious customers, some of our price-sensitive customers turned to competitors. 
In the regulated mail sector, we kept prices stable as dictated by the price-cap procedure. 
The first postal rate increase in 15 years was approved for 2013.

A.41  Mail Communication: volumes

mail items (millions)

business customer letters

Private customer letters

Total

2011

6,564

1,245

7,809

2012

6,403

1,175

7,578

+ / – %

–2.5

– 5.6

–3.0

Q4 2011

Q4 2012

1,697

362

2,059

1,643

341

1,984

+ / – %

–3.2

– 5.8

–3.6

54

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
Group Management Report
Divisions
MAIL division

Unaddressed advertising mail up slightly

In  the  Dialogue  Marketing  business  unit,  total  sales  volumes  declined  slightly 
over the course of the year. Unaddressed advertising mail was up year-on-year, whilst 
 addressed advertising mail declined. The mail-order business continued to hold back on 
advertising expenditures. Moreover, the insolvency of our customer Neckermann and 
three fewer working days had a clearly noticeable impact. As a result, revenue in this 
business unit decreased by 4.1 % in the reporting year to €2,497 million (previous year: 
€2,605 million). The quarter-on-quarter decline was less pronounced.

A.42  Dialogue Marketing: volumes

mail items (millions)

addressed  
advertising mail

unaddressed  
advertising mail

Total

2011

2012

+ / – %

Q4 2011

Q4 2012

+ / – %

6,123

5,869

4,105

10,228

4,197

10,066

– 4.1

2.2

–1.6

1,660

1,607

1,149

2,809

1,158

2,765

–3.2

0.8

–1.6

Press services revenue down

Revenue in the Press Services business unit totalled €744 million in the reporting 
year, 4.9 % below the prior-year figure of €782 million. Circulation figures continued 
their downwards trend in the German press services market and some publications 
were discontinued. Average publication weights were also down.

Value-added service business stable

Revenue in the Value-Added Services business unit was €236 million in the  reporting 
year, 0.8 % less than the revenue generated in the prior year (€238 million). The decline 
is mainly attributable to the effect of fewer working days in the fourth quarter.

Parcel business growth consistently strong

In our Parcel Germany business unit, revenue in the reporting year was €3,477 mil-
lion, exceeding the prior-year figure of €3,179 million by a substantial 9.4 %. Fourth- 
quarter growth was 6.8 % to €1,038 million and therefore slightly lower on account of 
the fewer working days. The flourishing e-commerce business is the primary reason for 
this consistently strong growth. Our range of products and delivery services is playing 
a key role in this.

A.43  Parcel Germany: volumes

parcels (millions)

business customer parcels 1

Private customer parcels

Total

1  including intra-group revenue.

2011

755

115

870

2012

835

120

955

+ / – %

10.6

4.3

9.8

Q4 2011

Q4 2012

+ / – %

226

39

265

244

40

284

8.0

2.6

7.2

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

55

 
 
Retail outlets generate increased revenue

Revenue generated by the more than 20,000 retail outlets and sales points amounted 
to €850 million in the reporting year, a 3.4 % increase over the prior year (€822 million). 
Growth in the fourth quarter amounted to 1.3 % despite fewer working days. Amongst 
other things, pleasing parcel growth positively impacted revenue development.

Positive performance in international mail business

In the Global Mail business unit, volumes declined year-on-year because we dis-
continued the bulk mail business in the Netherlands and the domestic business in the 
UK. Full-year revenue increased by 1.1 % to €1,712 million, in the fourth quarter by 6.2 % 
to €496 million. Positive currency effects increased revenue in the reporting year by 
€48 million. The domestic business in the United States saw an especially encouraging 
development.

A.44  Mail International: volumes

mail items (millions)

global Mail

2011

2,987

2012

1,900

+ / – %

–36.4

Q4 2011

Q4 2012

638

515

+ / – %

–19.3

  significant events, page 36

  significant events, page 36

Earnings below prior year due to additional VAT payment

EBIT in the MAIL division was €1,051 million in financial year 2012, 5.1 % below 
the prior-year figure of €1,107 million. It was reduced by €151 million as a result of 
the  additional  VAT  payment. Through strict cost management, we were able to compen-
sate for most of the other impacts on earnings resulting from increased wages, market 
trends and the insolvency of Neckermann. Return on sales was 7.5 %. EBIT amounted 
to €373 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. This was 51.6 % more than in the prior 
year (€246 million), which had included a one-time salary payment to our employees.
Operating  cash  flow  was  €−1,445 million  and  therefore  significantly  below  the 
prior year (€924 million). This includes the effects from the additional VAT payment 
(€−290 million) as well as funding of our pension obligations (€−1,897 million). Working 
capital in the reporting year was €−616 million.

56

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
DHl

as an international express service provider, an air, ocean and road freight forwarder, as well as 
a supply chain specialist, we offer our customers an extensive range of integrated logistics solu-
tions. With a network that spans the globe, we are amongst the leading providers in our business 
segments. We continuously improve our services in order to meet our customers’ needs.

exPress 

Products

DHL time Definite

DHL same Day

DHL Day Definite

Regions

europe

americas

asia Pacific

MEA (Middle east and africa)

Network

> 220 countries and territories

3 main global hubs

36,750 service Points

2.6 million customers

31,500 vehicles

global ForWarDing, 
FreigHt

suPPlY CHain 

Regions

Global Forwarding

Worldwide

> 150 countries and territories

Freight

Supply Chain logistics solutions

Warehousing

Distribution

Managed transport

Value-added services

business process outsourcing

europe, CIS, the Middle east, north africa, USA

supply Chain management and consulting

> 50 countries

Locations

Global Forwarding

> 850 branches

Freight

> 160 branches

Products

Global Forwarding

air freight

ocean freight

industrial projects

transport management

Customs clearance

Freight

Full truckload

Part truckload

less than truckload

intermodal transport

Supply Chain focus sectors

Consumer

retail

technology

life sciences & Healthcare

automotive

energy

Williams Lea services

Marketing solutions

office Document solutions

Customer Correspondence Management

Supply Chain products

lead logistics Provider

Packaging services

Maintenance & repair operations

technical services

life sciences & Healthcare Platform

airline business solutions

E-Fulfilment

environmental solutions

EXPRESS division

business units anD MarKet Positions

World market leader for international express services

In the EXPRESS division, we transport urgent documents and goods reliably and on 
time from door to door. Our network spans more than 220 countries and territories, in 
which some 100,000 employees provide services for more than 2.6 million customers. 
As a global network operator that applies standardised processes, we are well aware 
that the quality of our services and the satisfaction of our customers are crucial in 
determining our success. That is why we are constantly optimising our service to keep 
our customer commitments and respond specifically to customers’ wishes. It is not by 
accident that DHL is the world market leader in international express services.

Portfolio of time-definite products simplified and strengthened

International time-definite courier and express shipments are our core business. Our 
main product, Time Definite, offers delivery as fast as possible. Our premium Time Defi-
nite product with guaranteed pre-12 delivery and money-back guarantee was substantially 
expanded in 75 destination countries, creating more than a million additional postcode 
combinations where our customers benefit from our improved range of services. 

Our portfolio is complemented by special industry-specific services such as Collect 
and Return and  Medical  express. Customers in high-tech industries in particular use 
Collect and Return, in which critical goods in need of repair are collected from the end 
user, taken in for repair and then returned to the user.

DHL has also increased activities for customers in the Life Sciences & Healthcare 
sector. In the year under review, we began offering various types of thermal packaging 
for temperature-controlled, chilled and frozen contents. These types of packaging are 
easy to order from our regional supply centres.

In addition, we have extended our network. For example, the number of our  Service 
Points increased to the current 36,750, 1,000 were added in emerging markets and 
in Africa alone. At these  Service Points, customers paying directly can purchase our 
 Express Easy product even if they do not have a customer account. This simple product 
with its transparent price and weight categories and recyclable packaging is gaining 
steadily in popularity.

To allow us to concentrate on our core business of international time-critical ship-
ments, we are offering our Economy Select product in the Day Definite area in fewer 
markets than before.

Our airline – customer-centric and environmentally conscious

Our dedicated air network consists of several airlines, some of which we own 100 %. 
With 3.0 million transported tonnes, DHL is one of the leading international freight 
 carriers. We improve our service continuously. In March 2012, we put another around-
the-world route into operation between Hong Kong and Leipzig via Los Angeles. We can 
now offer even more customers in Asia next-day delivery to the western United States and 
Canada. Customers in both these regions also benefit from collection times that are up to 
three hours later for shipments to Europe via our hub in Leipzig. To meet rising demand 
in the B2C sector, we opened a new flight route between the USA and Australia in July 2012. 
This increased capacity and decreased delivery time from Cincinnati to Sydney by one day.

  glossary, page 218

  glossary, page 218

58

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

We operate our aircraft fleet with both economical and ecological aspects in mind. 
In the United States, for instance, the old Douglas DC-8s were replaced with newer, more 
fuel-efficient Boeing 767 s in the year under review. In addition, we have deployed two 
Boeing 747-8 s on the high-frequency route between Hong Kong and Cincinnati. The 
Boeing 747-8, which is currently the most modern freight aircraft available, offers more 
room than similar models whilst using less fuel.

Market lead expanded in the global express business

DHL has succeeded in expanding its leading position in the international express 
business. As in the previous year, we led the international express market in all regions 
outside of the Americas by a wide margin.

Leading position in Europe strengthened

Although the European economy had already softened in 2011, we raised our market 
share in the international express segment from 38 % to 41 %, thus remaining the market 
leader. This testifies to the fact that our strategy holds firm even in difficult times.

Increased presence in the Americas region

Our focus on the international express business has continued to prove successful 
in the Americas region. We succeeded in growing our presence in this market, with an 
increase in our share from 13 % to 16 % in 2011. 

After having expanded our global hub in Cincinnati in 2011, in March 2012 we 
broke ground for an additional expansion. This will create around 280 new jobs. Given 
that business in the region is developing well and we see high long-term potential, we 
opened a new hub in Mexico in September 2012.

Group Management Report
Divisions
EXPRESS division

A.45  European international express 
market, 2011 1, 2 : top 4

Market volume: €6,813 million

10 %  Fedex

14 %  TNT

23 %  UPS

41 %  DHL

1  includes the TDI express product.
2  Country base: AT, BE, CH, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FR, IL, IT, 

NL, NO, PL, RU, SE, TR, UK.

source: Market intelligence 2012, annual reports 
and desk research.

A.46  The Americas international express 
market, 2011 1, 2 : top 4

Market volume: €7,352 million

  1 %  TNT

16 %  DHL

30 %  UPS

50 %  Fedex

Market leadership solidified in Asia

Asia is an important and profitable market for us. We also solidified our leading 

market position in this region in 2011 with a rise of four percentage points to 40 %.

Since 2012, we have also been offering customers in Asia our Collect and Return 
service. The completion of our North Asia Hub in Shanghai puts us in an excellent 
position for the future. Our customers now have faster access to international markets 
and benefit from earlier delivery times.

1  includes the TDI express product.
2  Country base: AR, BR, CA, CL, CO, CR, MX, PA,  

VE, US.

source: Market intelligence 2012, annual reports 
and desk research.

A.47  Asia Pacific international express 
market, 2011 1, 2 : top 4

Market volume: €7,487 million

10 %  UPS

14 %  EMS

21 %  Fedex

40 %  DHL

1  includes the TDI express product.
2  Country base: AU, CN, HK, ID, IN, JP, KR, MY, NZ, 

SG, TH, TW, VN.

source: Market intelligence 2012, annual reports 
and desk research.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

59

 
 
 
 
Reliable partner in countries affected by political crises

Effective 1 January 2012, we aligned the structure of our regions to reflect manage-
ment responsibility. We transferred Turkey as well as Russia and other Eastern European 
countries from the EEMEA region (Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa) to the 
Europe region. The EEMEA region was renamed MEA (Middle East and Africa). We have 
been growing steadily in this region for many years and we have the largest market share 
by far in the international express business. Since there are no studies that sufficiently 
cover the market in its new form, we have not included any such portrayal.

The political unrest in the Middle East posed a particular challenge for us in the 
reporting year. We were able to maintain service in Syria despite having to close or move 
branches at short notice. This was also the case in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran and Yemen, 
where we remained a reliable partner for our local customers whilst upholding all legal 
requirements and ensuring our employees’ safety.

reVenue anD earnings PerForManCe

Increased revenue growth in the time-definite business

In the EXPRESS division, revenue grew by 9.3 % in the reporting year to €12,778 mil-
lion (previous year, adjusted: €11,691 million). The figure for the previous year still 
 included revenue of €220 million related to the divested domestic express businesses 
in China, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Excluding these divestments and positive 
currency effects of €513 million, revenue grew by 6.8 %.

In the Time Definite International (TDI) product line, per-day shipment volumes 
rose by 9.4 % in 2012 compared with the prior year. Fourth-quarter growth even reached 
the double digits. Weight per shipment increased by 3.7 % in the reporting year.

In the Time Definite Domestic (TDD) business, our customers sent 9.3 % more ship-
ments each day in the reporting year than in the prior year. Here as well, growth was 
even more pronounced in the fourth quarter at 14.7 %. In contrast, per-day shipment 
volumes in the Day Definite Domestic (DDD) business declined by 14.0 % in the year 
under review, due especially to the disposals mentioned above.

Effective 1 January 2012, responsibility for the domestic less-than-truckload and 
part-truckload  business  in  the  Czech  Republic  was  transferred  from  the  EXPRESS 
 division to the Freight business unit. The previous year’s segment reporting figures 
were adjusted accordingly.

60

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Divisions
EXPRESS division

A.48  EXPRESS: revenue by product

€ m per day 1

time Definite   
international (TDI)

time Definite  
Domestic (TDD)

Day Definite  
Domestic (DDD)

2011  
adjusted

2012 

+ / – % 

Q4 2011 
adjusted

Q4 2012 

+ / – % 

28.9

31.2

5.0

3.4

4.6

2.8

8.0

– 8.0

–17.6

30.8

33.5

8.8

5.0

3.2

4.5

2.9

–10.0

– 9.4

1  to improve comparability, product revenues were translated at uniform exchange rates. these revenues are also the basis for the 

 weighted calculation of working days.

A.49  EXPRESS: volumes by product

thousands of items 
per day 1 

time Definite   
international (TDI)

time Definite  
Domestic (TDD)

Day Definite  
Domestic (DDD)

2011  
adjusted

2012 

+ / – % 

Q4 2011 
adjusted

Q4 2012 

+ / – % 

542

686

342

593

750

294

9.4

9.3

–14.0

579

689

330

640

790

316

10.5

14.7

– 4.2

1  to improve comparability, product revenues were translated at uniform exchange rates. these revenues are also the basis for the 

 weighted calculation of working days.

Encouraging rise in volumes in the Europe region

Although the economic situation in Europe was tense in 2012, revenue in the Europe 
region increased by 4.7 % to €5,614 million (previous year, adjusted: €5,361 million). This 
figure includes positive currency effects of €73 million related mainly to our business 
activities in the UK, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Russia and Turkey. Excluding these effects, 
revenue growth was 3.4 %. Daily shipment volumes in the reporting year grew by 9.0 % 
in the TDI product line; in the fourth quarter, the growth was 9.1 %.

Highly dynamic business trend in the Americas region

Our business trend was particularly dynamic in the Americas region, especially in 
the United States. Revenue increased by 20.6 % to €2,276 million in 2012 (previous year: 
€1,887 million). This figure includes the sale of our domestic express business in Canada 
in the amount of €97 million and positive currency effects of €168 million. Excluding 
these effects, the revenue increased exceptionally by 16.9 % in the region, due in particu-
lar to the good US business as well as higher revenues in Mexico. In the Americas region 
the daily shipment volumes for the TDI product line improved by 8.1 % year-on-year. In 
the fourth quarter, they rose by 6.6 %.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

61

 
Strong growth in the Asia Pacific region continues

The express business in the Asia Pacific region performed very well during the entire 
financial year. Revenue increased by 15.7 % to €4,301 million (previous year: €3,718 mil-
lion). In the prior year, this figure still included revenues related to the divested domestic 
express businesses in China, New Zealand and Australia in the amount of €123 million. 
Excluding these disposals and positive currency effects of €256 million, revenue grew 
by 12.1 % year-on-year. 

In the TDI product line, our customers sent 11.1 % more shipments per day than in 
the previous year. Especially noticeable were the increases in the BRIC + M countries of 
China (19.7 %) and India (15 %). In the fourth quarter, the growth was 15.0 % and was 
therefore stronger than the trend for the entire year.

Business grows stably in the MEA region

In the MEA (Middle East and Africa) region, revenue increased by 12.3 % in the 
reporting year to €961 million (previous year, adjusted: €856 million), despite the fact 
that the fourth-quarter growth trend decreased slightly year-on-year to 3.0 %. The rev-
enue figure includes positive currency effects of €40 million for the financial year as a 
whole. Excluding these effects, revenue growth was 7.6 %. Daily shipment volumes rose 
by 6.6 % in the TDI product line and grew by as much as 16.1 % in the TDD product line.

EBIT reaches new record

EBIT for the EXPRESS division rose to €1,108 million in the reporting year and thus 
reached a new high (previous year, adjusted: €916 million). The increase was driven by 
revenue growth in all regions as well as one-time effects in the second quarter: a portion 
of the restructuring provisions in the United States was reassessed and reversed, result-
ing in a positive  impact on EBIT of €99 million. Earnings were also positively impacted 
by deconsolidation income of €44 million from the sale of our domestic businesses in 
New Zealand and Australia. The additional  VAT  payment in Germany for past financial 
years had a negative effect of €30 million on EBIT for the division.

EBIT for the fourth quarter of 2012 improved from €244 million to €279 million 
year-on-year. Return on sales rose to 8.7 % for the reporting year (previous year: 7.8 %) 
and 8.3 % for the fourth quarter (previous year: 7.9 %).

Due  to  higher  income  and  strict  working  capital  management,  operating  cash 
flow amounted to €1,102 million in the year under review (previous year, adjusted: 
€1,132 million).

  significant events, page 36

62

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
Group Management Report
Divisions
GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division

  glossary, page 218

A.50  Air freight market, 2011: top 4

thousand tonnes 1

   848  Panalpina

1,073  Kuehne + nagel

1,149  DB schenker

2,447  DHL

1  Data based solely on export freight tonnes.

source: annual reports, publications and  company 
estimates.

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division

business units anD MarKet Positions

The air, ocean and road freight forwarder

With its business units Global Forwarding and Freight, DHL is the Group’s air, ocean 
and road freight forwarder. Our services extend from standardised container transport 
to highly specialised end-to-end solutions for industrial projects, and solutions tailored 
to specific sectors. A team of approximately 42,000 employees around the world strives 
to continuously improve our services in order to meet our customers’ needs.

Our business model is very asset-light, as it is based on the brokerage of transport 
services between our customers and freight carriers. This allows us to consolidate ship-
ments to achieve higher volumes, purchase cargo space at better conditions and optimise 
our network utilisation. Thanks to our global presence, we are able to offer a variety of 
routing options and meet our customers’ increasing demand for multimodal shipments.

The leader in a softer air freight market

The air freight market showed signs of weakness in 2012. Although volumes in 
the first half of the reporting year did not decline as much as in the second half of the 
previous year. According to IATA, the global airline industry association, worldwide 
freight tonne kilometres flown in 2012 dropped by 2.6 % by the end of June. Airlines 
have responded to the lower demand by expanding overall capacity only slightly, by 
0.83 % (as at June 2012). Whilst passenger capacities were increased, freight capacities 
were decreased.

In its air freight business, DHL transports a significant share of the world’s technol-
ogy and manufacturing products. Transport volumes vary by sector: the Technology 
sector saw a decline in the reporting year whilst the Engineering & Manufacturing and 
Automotive sectors experienced increases. Since we have an especially large share of air 
freight business in the Technology sector, our overall tonnage performance was slightly 
below the market average. Cost pressure drove some of our largest customers in particu-
lar to shift parts of their business from air to ocean freight, which is more economical 
for them. After transporting 2.44 million export freight tonnes in 2011, we remained 
the air freight market leader in 2012.

Ocean freight market on steady but moderate rise

The ocean freight market showed steady but moderate growth in the reporting year. 
However, the traditional peak season in the fourth quarter was nearly absent. Overall 
market growth was 1.9 % (as at December 2012), DHL outperformed this with a growth 
rate of 4.2 % (as at December 2012). The increase in ocean freight was mainly fuelled by 
intra-Asian and strong European exports, whilst volumes declined on the traditional 
Asia-Europe and Asia-North America trade lanes.

The decline in freight rates observed in the prior year came to an end in 2012. Ocean 
carriers made a series of general rate increases, which decreased the effective capacity 
in the market to the point that overall vessel use was high throughout the entire year. 
After transporting 2.72 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2011, we remained the 
second largest provider of ocean freight services in 2012.

A.51  Ocean freight market, 2011: top 4

thousand TEU s 1

1,310  Panalpina

1,763  DB schenker

2,724  DHL

3,274  Kuehne + nagel

1  twenty-foot equivalent units.

source: annual reports, publications and  company 
estimates.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

63

 
 
A.52  European road transport  
market, 2011: top 5

Market volume: €168.6 billion 1

1.3 %  geodis

1.6 %  Dachser

1.8 %  DSV

2.4 %  DHL

3.5 %  DB schenker

1  Country base: total for 19 european countries, 

excluding bulk and specialities transport.

source: MI study, DHL 2012 (based on  eurostat, 
financial publications, IHS global insight).

Road freight market growth slows

Driven by the challenging macroeconomic environment, growth in the European 
road freight market slowed over the course of 2012. The annual average was 0 % to 2 % 
(previous year: 3 % to 5 %). Whilst the market in Germany and other parts of Central 
Europe saw satisfactory growth developments, several Southern European countries 
 recorded  a  decline.  DHL’s  Freight  business  unit  continued  to  be  one  of  the  leading 
providers in the European market, with a share of 2.4 % in 2011. Our revenue growth 
matched that of the overall market.

reVenue anD earnings PerForManCe

Freight forwarding business grows profitably in weak market

The GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division increased revenue in the reporting 
year  by  3.6 %  to  €15,666 million  (previous  year,  adjusted:  €15,118 million).  This  fig-
ure includes positive currency effects of €507 million. Revenue growth in the freight 
 forwarding business was moderate throughout 2012. The market weakened  noticeably 
and  the  economic  environment  remained  uncertain.  Our  business  grew  profitably 
 despite this.

In the Global Forwarding business unit, revenue increased by 4.6 % in the reporting 
year to €11,604 million (previous year: €11,094 million). When adjusted for the positive 
currency effects of €467 million, we saw growth of 0.4 %. Gross profit increased by 7.6 % 
to €2,655 million (previous year: €2,468 million). 

  strategic focus, page 100 f.

Our project new Forwarding environment made encouraging progress.

Gross profits in air and ocean freight at good level

In the reporting year, revenue declined year-on-year in the air freight business and 
grew in the ocean freight business. Consequently, shipping volumes trended as follows: 
air freight was down and ocean freight was up. Overall, the margins and therefore gross 
profit were stabilised at a good level.

Air freight volumes decreased by 5.3 % year-on-year, primarily on account of the 
decline in demand in the technology sector. The decline was slowed in the fourth quarter 
with the slight rise of freight rates, especially on freight lines from Asia. On the short-
term spot market, options became available at times due to the continued availability 
of surplus capacities, which resulted from the relatively strong rise in passenger flight 
capacities compared with a relatively weak decline in air freight capacities. Revenue 
was down in the reporting year by 1.0 % and in the fourth quarter by 2.7 %. Gross profit 
improved by 2.9 % in the reporting year.

64

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
Group Management Report
Divisions
GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division

A.53  Global Forwarding: revenue

€ m

air freight

ocean freight

other

Total

2011

5,573

3,544

1,977

2012

5,517

3,738

2,349

11,094

11,604

A.54  Global Forwarding: volumes

thousands

air freight

tonnes

of which exports

tonnes

ocean freight

TEU s 1

1  twenty-foot equivalent units.

2011

4,378

2,447

2,724

2012

4,147

2,327

2,840

+ / – %

–1.0

5.5

18.8

4.6

+ / – %

– 5.3

– 4.9

4.3

Q4 2011

1,436

895

576

2,907

Q4 2012

1,397

921

624

2,942

Q4 2011

1,105

624

682

Q4 2012

1,070

606

701

+ / – %

–2.7

2.9

8.3

1.2

+ / – %

–3.2

–2.9

2.8

Volumes in our ocean freight business in 2012 were 4.3 % higher than in the prior 
year. Whilst demand stagnated on the traditional east-west trade lanes, it rose on north-
south and transcontinental routes, above all in Asia. A number of our suppliers put large, 
new ships into operation in the fourth quarter, which improved purchasing conditions 
in the market. Revenue and gross profit both grew by 5.5 % in the reporting year.

Our  industrial  project  business  (in  table  A.53  reported  as  part  of  Other)  grew 
strongly in the reporting year. The share of revenue reported under Other related to 
the industrial project business increased to 38.7 % (previous year: 35.6 %). Gross profit 
also improved again.

Stable growth in overland transport business

The Freight business unit generated revenue of €4,192 million in 2012, exceeding 
the previous year’s adjusted figure of €4,162 million by 0.7 %. This includes positive 
currency  effects  of  €41 million.  Excluding  these  effects,  revenue  was  slightly  below 
the  previous year’s figure by 0.3 %. Volumes declined primarily in Scandinavia and 
the  Benelux  countries. We generated higher revenue mainly in Germany and Eastern 
 Europe. Business from Standard Forwarding in the United States represented 1.7 % of 
the total revenue of the Freight business unit in the reporting year. We acquired this 
business in June 2011 to drive our overland transport business outside of the European 
core market. Despite persistent pressure on margins, gross profit was €1,155 million, 
which exceeded the prior-year figure by 6.0 % (previous year, adjusted: €1,090 million).
Effective 1 January 2012, responsibility for our domestic less-than-truckload and 
part-truckload business in the Czech Republic was transferred from the EXPRESS div-
ision to Freight. The previous year’s segment reporting figures were adjusted accordingly.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

65

 
 
 
EBIT increases due to high gross profit margins

EBIT in the division improved by 16.4 % to €512 million (previous year, adjusted: 
€440 million) due to high gross profit margins and constantly increasing efficiency. 
 Return on sales amounted to 3.3 % (previous year: 2.9 %).

Fourth-quarter earnings growth was even greater, increasing 27.7 % to €166 million 
(previous year, adjusted: €130 million). Return on sales in the fourth quarter improved 
year-on-year from 3.3 % to 4.2 %.

Net working capital declined compared with the prior year as a result of improved 
receivables management. Operating cash flow was €647 million and therefore slightly 
below the adjusted prior-year figure of €670 million.

66

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Divisions
SUPPLY CHAIN division

SUPPLY CHAIN division

business units anD MarKet Positions

Customer-centred solutions in two business units

The SUPPLY CHAIN division comprises the two business units of Supply Chain and 

Williams Lea, in which we offer customer-focused outsourcing solutions worldwide.

Integrated end-to-end offering in contract logistics

In the Supply Chain business, we provide logistics solutions along the entire supply 
chain for customers in a wide variety of sectors. From planning, sourcing, production, 
storage and distribution to returns and recycling, customers rely on us to ensure a smooth 
logistics flow.

A.55  Logistics and value-added services along the entire supply chain

Raw  
materials

Inbound 
transport

Production 
flows

Outbound 
transport

Warehousing

Distribution

Returns

DHL Supply Chain Services

1

2

3

4

5

6

1   Plan – laying the foundation  

3   Make – supporting product  

5   Deliver – getting it where it  

for a supply chain

manufacturing

needs to be

2   Source – getting the materials  

4   Store & Customise – getting it 

6   Return – bringing it back when  

at the time required

ready to sell

it’s not needed

We offer warehousing, distribution, managed transport and value-added services 
as well as business process outsourcing, supply chain management and consulting solu-
tions. By ensuring that our customers’ products and information reach their markets 
quickly and efficiently, we secure them competitive advantages. With local insight and 
global scale, we serve customers in more than 60 countries and support them in opti-
mising their complex processes.

Our Supply Chain business provides expert solutions in mainly six focus sectors: 
Consumer, Retail, Technology, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Automotive and Energy. We 
manage the supply chains all the way from the source of supply to the end customer. 
Two  of  our  largest  sectors  are  Consumer  and  Retail.  Flexibility,  reliability  and  cost 
 efficiency are the key value drivers for our services in these sectors, which range from 
international inbound logistics and warehouse and transport services to packaging and 
other value-added services. In November 2012, we opened a new logistics centre in 
Mönchengladbach, Germany, for the Primark fashion chain. Primark is an example of 
the customers, with whom we have maintained a good business relationship for many 
years and for whom we offer integrated, customised logistics solutions across national 
borders. We have already had a DHL logistics centre for this customer in the UK since 
2008 and in Spain since 2010. The services of the new logistics centre in Mönchen-
gladbach cover all warehouse activities plus transport to Primark shops in Germany, 
the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria.

  glossary, page 218

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

67

 
  glossary, page 218

  glossary, page 218

  glossary, page 218

A.56  Contract logistics market, 2011:  
top 10

Market volume: €154 billion

1.1 %   rhenus
1.1 %  CAT
1.2 %  UPS SCS

1.2 %  sankyu

1.3 %  Penske
1.4 %  Wincanton
1.7 %  Hitachi
2.2 %  Kuehne + nagel
2.4 %  CEVA

7.8 %  DHL

source: transport intelligence; figures estimated 
except for DHL, CEVA, Kuehne + nagel; exchange 
rates: as at May 2012.

Customers in the Technology sector require fast, flexible and efficient supply chains. 
In addition, demand for integrated product and service logistics is increasing. Our port-
folio ranges from inbound-to-manufacturing services and warehouse and transport services 
through to integrated packaging solutions, returns management and technical services.
We are also increasingly providing integrated solutions in the Life Sciences & Health-
care industry, where supply chains and logistics processes are still developing in many 
parts of the world. Our offering takes account of steadily rising cost pressure whilst 
meeting the high quality standards of our customers.

The Automotive industry is one of our truly global sectors. Production is shifting 
increasingly to emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil, in which we already 
have a strong presence. For our inbound-to-manufacturing, aftermarket  logistics and lead 
logistics  provider  solutions, the key factor is our ability to offer a high degree of global 
flexibility and reliability whilst further lowering costs.

The fast-growing Energy sector is another market in which the DHL divisions 
provide integrated logistics solutions that cover procurement to disposal. With our 
 maintenance, repair and operation services we offer streamlined supply chain and service 
solutions that can often substantially reduce costs whilst significantly increasing main-
tenance productivity.

A variety of outsourcing solutions for companies

Williams Lea provides services in two areas: marketing solutions and business pro-
cess outsourcing. Document management, marketing and customer correspondence are 
amongst the solutions supplied, which we offer to customers in the financial services, 
retail, consumer goods, pharmaceutical, publishing and public sectors as well as in the 
legal sector.

Global market leader in contract logistics

DHL remains the global market leader in contract logistics, with a market share 
of 7.8 % (2011). This market is highly fragmented: the top ten players account for only 
about 21.4 % of the overall market, the size of which is estimated to be €154 billion. We 
lead the market in our key regions of North America, Europe and Asia Pacific and also 
enjoy a very strong position in rapidly growing markets such as Brazil, India, China and 
Mexico. Thanks to our global expertise and many years of business relationships with 
multinational corporations, we are confident that we shall be able to expand further in 
these markets.

Williams Lea is the market leader in outsourcing document management and mar-
keting production. This market is also highly fragmented and consists largely of spe-
cialists offering either a very limited set of services or occupying exclusive niches. Due 
to our broad range of international services and long-lasting customer relationships, 
we succeeded in building on our leading market position even more during the year 
under review. Thanks to DHL’s good customer relationships Williams Lea was able to 
gain additional new business.

68

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
reVenue anD earnings PerForManCe

Revenue increases by 8.4 %

Revenue in the division increased in the reporting year by 8.4 % to €14,340 mil-
lion (previous year: €13,223 million). This figure includes positive currency effects of 
€691 million. Revenue was also impacted by the previous year’s acquisition of Euro-
difarm and Tag as well as the sale of Exel Transportation Services (ETS). Excluding these 
effects, revenue growth was 3.4 %, with the Life Sciences & Healthcare and Automotive 
sectors providing the largest increase. Fourth-quarter revenue increased by 5.2 % from 
€3,548 million to €3,733 million. Excluding positive currency effects (€100 million), 
revenue growth was 2.4 %.

In the Supply Chain business unit, revenue for 2012 amounted to €13,000 million, 
up 8.3 % on the previous year (€11,999 million). Growth was 4.2 % excluding positive 
currency effects, the sale of ETS and the Eurodifarm acquisition. Revenue from our 
18 key global customers increased by 5.7 %.

In the Americas region, business in all sectors demonstrated good progress. The 
Consumer and Retail sectors performed best, supported by new business, higher vol-
umes and strong growth in Brazil and Mexico. 

The highest level of regional revenue growth was achieved in Asia Pacific, due to 

significant volume increases and new business in Australia, Thailand and Indonesia.

In Europe, revenue in the Life Sciences & Healthcare sector grew from additional 
business with the UK National Health Service, boosted by an optimised mix of higher- 
value products. Volumes and new business also increased in Eastern Europe, the Middle 
East and Africa.

Williams Lea revenue was €1,345 million in the reporting year, an increase of 9.8 % 
on the previous year (€1,225 million). Excluding the Tag acquisition and positive cur-
rency effects, revenue declined by 4.3 %, due primarily to the loss of two major Financial 
Services customers in the UK in the previous year and a move towards digital publishing 
in the public sector that reduced print volumes.

New business of around €1.2 billion concluded

In the Supply Chain business unit, we concluded additional contracts worth around 
€1,210 million in annualised revenue with both new and existing customers. Major gains 
were  achieved  in  the  Life  Sciences & Healthcare,  Consumer,  Retail  and  Technology 
 sectors. The contract renewal rate remained at a constant high level.

EBIT margin rises to 2.9 %

EBIT in the division increased by 14.9 % to €416 million in the reporting year (previ-
ous year: €362 million). The prior-year figure included a €23 million net gain on the 
disposal of ETS. The increase in EBIT was driven by improved contract portfolio man-
agement along with continued cost efficiencies. This compensated for margin pressure 
and start-up costs associated with new business customers. The EBIT margin rose to 
2.9 % (previous year: 2.7 %). Fourth-quarter EBIT amounted to €115 million (previous 
year: €73 million). Operating cash flow rose from €394 million in the previous year to 
€432 million, primarily due to better working capital management. This included cash 
outflows of €20 million from funding our pension obligations in Germany.

Group Management Report
Divisions
SUPPLY CHAIN division

A.57  SUPPLY CHAIN: 
revenue by sector, 2012

Total revenue: €14,340 million

  3 %  energy
  5 %  supply Chain others
  9 %  automotive
  9 %  Williams lea
11 %  technology
18 %   life sciences  
& Healthcare

19 %  Consumer

26 %  retail

A.58   SUPPLY CHAIN: 
revenue by region, 2012

Total revenue: €14,340 million

11 %  asia Pacific

27 %  americas

62 %   europe / Middle east /  

africa

  significant events, page 36

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

69

 
 
 
 
  strategic focus, page 96

  board of Management, page 116 f.

  business activities and organisation, 

page 20

non-FinanCial PerForManCe 
 inDiCators

employees

“One HR” – harmonising HR worldwide
One of the goals of our strategy 2015 is to become the Employer of Choice. This leads 
to priorities that we support with our now globally aligned HR organisation. Under the 
direction of our new Board Member for Human Resources, angela  titzrath, we shall 
develop a global HR management system and harmonise our HR work with our “One 
HR” programme. Our guiding principle is to increase the added value for our divisions.
The assessment has already been completed. Now we are working on reorganising 
the processes, responsibilities and structures within HR. In the third quarter of 2012, 
we  established  two  new  corporate  departments:  HR  Performance & Programs  and  HR 
 Development. These departments have been given the task of steering HR perform ance 
management as well as focusing on Group-wide areas with strong potential such as 
talent and career development across the Group.

Slight increase in number of employees

As at 31 December 2012, we employed 428,129 full-time equivalents in more than 

220 countries and territories, 1.1 % more than in the previous year.

A.59  Number of employees

At year-end

Headcount 1

Full-time equivalents 2

of which MAIL

EXPRESS  3

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT 3

SUPPLY CHAIN

Corporate Center / other

of which germany

europe (excluding germany)

americas

asia Pacific

other regions

Average for the year

Headcount

of which hourly workers and salaried employees

Civil servants

trainees

Full-time equivalents

1  including trainees.
2  excluding trainees.
3  adjusted.

2011

2012

+ / – %

471,654

423,502

147,487

83,775

42,546

136,810

12,884

168,108

108,208

70,291

61,112

15,783

467,188

418,375

44,421

4,392

473,626

428,129

145,850

85,587

42,062

141,926

12,704

167,082

107,322

72,503

64,164

17,058

472,321

424,950

42,461

4,910

423,348

428,287

0.4

1.1

–1.1

2.2

–1.1

3.7

–1.4

– 0.6

– 0.8

3.1

5.0

8.1

1.1

1.6

– 4.4

11.8

1.2

70

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group Management Report
Non-Financial Performance  Indicators
Employees

A.60  Employees by region, 2012 1

  4 %  other regions

15 %  asia Pacific

17 %  americas

25 %   europe  

(excluding germany)

39 %  germany

1  Full-time equivalents as at 31 December.

In the MAIL division, the number of employees declined slightly by 1.1 % to 145,850. 
New personnel were hired in the Parcel Germany business unit, which benefited from 
strong  growth  in  e-commerce.  However,  the  workforce  declined  overall,  primarily 
 because mail volumes fell and we discontinued the domestic business in the UK.

The number of full-time equivalents in the EXPRESS division increased compared 
with the adjusted prior-year figure, growing by 2.2 % to 85,587. The rise was mainly a 
result of an increase in shipment volumes in the TDI product line.

In the GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division, the number of employees declined 
slightly compared with the adjusted prior-year figure, down by 1.1 % to 42,062, primarily 
because air freight transport volumes fell and we improved processes.

The SUPPLY CHAIN division increased its staff level by 3.7 % to 141,926 as a result of 

growth in both new and existing business.

In Corporate Center / Other, the number of employees declined by 1.4 % to 12,704 
on account of productivity increases in indirect functions such as Finance, Human 
Resources and IT.

We continue to employ most of our personnel in Germany, where our workforce 
declined slightly. Whilst staff levels also decreased in Europe, they increased in the 
Americas, Asia Pacific and Other regions.

Our current planning foresees a slight increase in the number of employees in 

 financial year 2013.

Staff costs rise
staff costs rose by 6.2 % to €17,770 million (previous year: €16,730 million).

  note 13

A.61  Staff costs and social security benefits

€ m

Wages

social security contributions

retirement benefit expenses

expenses for other employee benefits

expenses for severance packages

Staff costs

2011

13,350

2,022

915

317

126

2012

14,179

2,094

984

336

177

16,730

17,770

  strategic focus, page 96

New programmes established for executives
We have also aligned our leadership principles consistently with strategy 2015 and 
defined an overarching leadership philosophy and culture in close co-operation with top 
management. Our executives are asked to scrutinise themselves and their own guiding 
maxims and to continuously further their personal development. In 2011, we designed 
a series of different leadership programmes and introduced them from top management 
down to upper and middle management. This enabled us to create a cross-divisional 
and, in some cases, specifically regional dialogue and education platform that provides 
the opportunity to network beyond various divisions. As at the end of the reporting 
year around 650 executives had attended one of these multi-day programmes. A total 
of 1,100 are expected to have attended one by the end of 2013. Additional associated 
measures are planned.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

71

 
 
A.62  Traineeships, Deutsche Post DHL, 
worldwide 1

  6.4 %   Warehousing  

 logistics specialists

10.1 %   Forwarding and  
logistics services  
specialists

10.2 %   Duale Hochschule  
students
13.1 %  other traineeships
60.2 %   Courier, express  

and postal services  
specialists

1  number of trainees, annual average: 4,910.

The success of our leadership development efforts is also reflected in our internal 
placement rate for upper and middle management, which was 92.9 % in the reporting 
year (previous year: 85.2 %). 5.7 % (previous year: 11.7 %) of the internal job placements 
involving these positions were cross-divisional in 2012.

Attracting and developing young talent 

In the reporting year, we hired over 2,100 trainees and students in Germany for 
more than 20 apprenticeship schemes and 15 dual-degree programmes. Around 1,700 of 
these trainees were hired in the MAIL division alone. Approximately 1,300 young people 
were offered an employment contract after completing their training.

We foster the top 5 % of our trainees in Germany in our Top-Azubi talent programme. 
These trainees are offered special seminars and permanent contracts upon successfully 
completing their training. Furthermore, we give young people whose career prospects 
seem bleak a chance at a traineeship as part of our Perspektive Gelb job entrance pro-
gramme. In 2012, the MAIL division provided approximately 450 opportunities for 
young people to gain qualifications. We offered about 70 % of these interns a subsequent 
traineeship.

With our UPstairs programme, we offer our employees’ children the opportunity 
to achieve higher levels of education. The scholarships provide financial assistance and 
individual support, such as mentoring, internships and other educational opportunities, 
for up to three years. In the reporting year, the programme reached almost 600 chil-
dren of employees in 87 countries. In 2013, we are planning to provide as many as 
1,100 scholar ships in 112 countries.

Generations Pact successfully extended

The Generations Pact, upon which Deutsche Post AG and the trade unions agreed 
in October 2011, is finding acceptance amongst our workforce. The goal is to enable 
older employees to work actively until they reach legal retirement age. As at the end of 
2012, 12,885 employees have set up a working-time account; 446 employees have gone 
into partial retirement.

Together with the trade unions, we are also striving towards a comparable instru-

ment for age-based working solutions for our civil servants.

The Generations Pact also aims to improve employment opportunities for young 
people. In the reporting year, we were able to give permanent employment offers to 1,100 
 Deutsche Post AG trainees and offer 1,810 employees permanent employment contracts.

Implementing our employees’ ideas

Our employees’ ideas greatly help to make our Group more economical and improve 
our ability to compete in the market. With 220,000 users now participating worldwide, 
the Group’s idea management is gaining importance outside of Germany as well. Today 
organisational units in 35 countries are using it to improve processes, increase product 
and service quality and reduce costs. In the reporting year, we harmonised our IT plat-
form that enables our employees around the world to share and develop ideas. As a result 
of the extensive changes to systems and processes associated with that, the total number 
of ideas declined sharply but expectedly. The quality of the ideas remains outstanding.

72

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
Group Management Report
Non-Financial Performance  Indicators
Diversity

An employee from DHL Airfreight in Singapore, for example, suggested reducing 
the amount of packaging material needed to stabilise loads in aircraft without adversely 
affecting quality or safety. Her suggestion was immediately taken up by organisational 
units in other countries.

An  idea  from  a  DHL  employee  in  Slovakia  also  drew  international  interest.  He 
 developed a concept for a customer in the Automotive sector that showed suppliers how 
to best arrange parts on a pallet, a solution that resulted in higher capacity at lower cost.

A.63  Idea management

suggestions for improvements

accepted suggestions for improvements

rate of implementation

number

number

%

2011

214,337

174,680

81.5

2012

165,124

133,698

81.0

Employee opinion survey as an important management tool

The annual Group-wide employee opinion survey is a key tool we use for measuring 
the success of our Group strategy. It is also an important management tool because the 
survey allows employees to openly address the behaviour of our executives. In the re-
porting year, 80 % of all employees participated again (previous year: 80 %). The results 
improved across all key performance indicators for the fourth year in a row.

The survey shows that commitment more than doubles if employees see that meas-
ures are being taken as a result of the preceding year’s survey and that the changes are 
evident. The key performance indicator “Active Leadership”, which is a mandatory part 
of the calculations for our executive variable remuneration components, achieved an 
approval rating of 69 % (previous year: 67 %). Moreover, the central indicator “Employee 
Commitment”, which depicts the satisfaction level of our employees and their identifi-
cation with the company, increased again to 72 % (previous year: 71 %). In global terms, 
this result is above average compared with other large companies.

Diversity

Strengthening our company through diversity management

Our workforce is very diverse and we see this as a competitive advantage. It is an 
advantage not merely in terms of the people already working for us but also in the search 
for new employees, especially in the context of the foreseeable shortage of  qualified 
 specialists and executives. With our diversity management approach, we intend to un-
lock new potential.

For a global company, the intercultural dimension is important. Deutsche Post DHL 
operates in 220 countries and territories around the world. In Germany alone, we employ 
over 150 nationalities. We aim to tap into this diversity through a wide range of measures.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

73

 
 
A.64  Gender distribution  
in management 1, 2012

18.5 %  Women

81.5 %  Men

1  based on upper and middle management.

We also see it as part of our responsibility to integrate people with a disability into our 
workforce. The average annual employment rate of people with a disability was 8.6 % at 
Deutsche Post AG in 2012, well above the national average in the German private sector of 
(4.0 % in 2010, source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German federal employment agency)).

Promoting equal opportunity and improving family friendliness

Equal opportunity is one of the most important aims of our personnel policy. We 
want to increase the share of women in management positions. The voluntary commit-
ment we made in 2011 in the joint declaration with all DAX 30 companies guides our 
efforts in this regard. We have committed ourselves to filling 25 % to 30 % of all manage-
ment positions becoming vacant with women.

In the reporting year, the share of women in management positions in the Group 
increased slightly to 18.5 % worldwide (previous year: 17.6 %), a positive trend we intend 
to accelerate. To do this we identified and analysed future priorities in a Group-wide 
project. Talent management, communications and gender diversity training will be our 
focal points.

In October 2012 we received our fifth consecutive Total E-Quality award. The 
 association of the same name recognises companies and organisations that promote 
the abilities and qualifications of women.

We  are  a  family-friendly  company.  In  addition  to  the  many  part-time  employ-
ment opportunities, we are continuously improving the availability of childcare. We 
co- operate with an external service provider who advises our employees in Germany 
with regard to selecting optimal childcare and helps find qualified childcare specialists.
As part of a new company agreement with our social partners, we have made it 
easier for staff members to transfer for personal reasons. With these family-friendly 
programmes, employees are able to change their place of work for important family or 
health reasons more easily and quickly.

A.65  Work-family balance  1

Headcount

state-regulated parental leave

unpaid holiday for family reasons

Part-time employees 2

share of part-time employees (%)

1  includes employees at Deutsche Post AG.
2  excluding employees in the release phase of partial retirement.

2011

1,809

2,286

65,322

37.5

2012

1,718

2,150

62,523

37.0

74

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
Group Management Report
Non-Financial Performance  Indicators
Health and safety

Health and safety

Promoting employee health worldwide

A.66  Illness rate 1

2012

2011

  7.6 %

  7.4 %

1  all organisational units in germany.

We understand “health” the way it is defined by the World Health Organisation 
(WHO): “a state of physical, mental and social well-being.” To maintain and promote the 
health of our workforce, we have developed a Group-wide system that is closely tied to 
risk management. Targeted initiatives and activities are implemented to improve our 
employees’ health. Within our operations, Health Work Groups work together with 
employees to identify where action is needed and implement specific measures locally. 
This results in between 30,000 and 40,000 measures every year to promote occupa-
tional health – from sports activities to influenza vaccinations and to stress prevention. 
In line with the social trend, the illness rate for 2012 in Germany rose slightly to 7.6 % 
(previous year: 7.4 %).

Each year we honour exemplary health initiatives with our Corporate Health Award. 

Our 2012 winners included initiatives in the United States and Taiwan.

Anchoring occupational safety more firmly

In the reporting year, road safety was again a central focal point of our prevention 
efforts. We completely updated and expanded the informational and training materials 
for our Global Road Safety programme. We also co-operated with domestic and inter-
national traffic safety organisations as well as other large companies.

We also pay particular attention to our delivery operations. In the reporting year, we 
continued the Step by Step programme, which is intended to make our couriers more 
aware of potential dangers.

In Thailand, DHL won the Zero Accident Award and the Best Enterprise Occupa-
tional Safety and Health Award for our holistic approach to the health and safety of 
employees. 

The certification and testing organisation TÜV Rheinland renewed the ISO 9001:2008 
certification of our occupational safety organisation’s quality management system in the 
reporting year.

A.67  Occupational safety 1

number of workplace accidents 2

accident rate (number of accidents per 1,000 employees per year)

number of working days lost due to accidents (calendar days)

Working days lost per accident

number of fatalities due to workplace accidents

1  includes employees of Deutsche Post AG.
2  accidents when at least one working day is lost, including accidents on the way to and from work.
3  adjusted.
4  as at 2 January 2013; subject to change if later reports received.

2011 3

12,864

72

2012 4

14,167

78.6

320,997

311,224

24.9

2

22.0

1

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

75

 
Corporate responsibility

Reducing the impact of our business on the environment

Living  corporate  responsibility  is  a  key  component  of  our  Group  strategy.  The 
 importance this has for our business activities is demonstrated in our Code of Conduct, 
which is guided by the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 
United Nations (UN) Global Compact. Moreover, we systematically take into account 
the various interests of our stakeholders and work to reduce the impact of our business 
on the environment. In doing so, we aim to strike a balance between our economic 
goals and society’s requirements by putting our experience and global presence to good 
use to help people and the environment. We concentrate above all on environmental 
 protection and we are committed to our responsibility as a corporate citizen.

Slight increase in C02 emissions due to stronger demand for air transport
We want to run a sustainable business. With our environmental protection pro-
gramme  GoGreen  we  are  anchoring  this  goal  throughout  the  entire  Group.  Under 
this programme we are reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, improving our CO2 
 efficiency and lowering costs. These efforts are also helping us to tap into new markets 
and business opportunities. Furthermore, we help our customers achieve their own 
environmental targets with “green” products. By the year 2020 we intend to improve 
the CO2 efficiency of our own operations and those of our subcontractors by 30 % com-
pared with 2007.

We quantify our CO2 emissions based upon the principles of the GHG Protocol  Corporate 
standard. In our European air freight business, this also includes the requirements of the 
European Union Emissions Trading System (EU  ETS). In 2012, our direct (Scope 1) 
and indirect (Scope 2) carbon emissions were approximately 5.4 million tonnes (pre-
vious year: 5.3 million tonnes). These emissions were a result of the fuel consumption of 
our fleet and energy consumption in our buildings. Direct CO2 emissions rose slightly 
 despite the fact that our buildings used less energy and our road transport vehicles con-
sumed less fuel. This was due mainly to the increased demand for air transport, which 
to a large extent we operate ourselves.

  ghgprotocol.org/standards

A.68  CO 2 emissions, 2012

Total: around 5.4 million tonnes 1

15 %  real estate

23 %  road transport

62 %  air transport

A.69  Fuel and energy consumption 1

1  scopes 1 and 2.

Consumption by fleet

air transport (jet fuel)

road transport (petrol, biodiesel, diesel, bio-ethanol, LPG)

road transport (biogas, CNG)

energy for buildings and facilities

2011

2012

1,019.1

476.4

1,059.0

472.3

1.4

2.2

3,317

3,172

million 
kilograms

million litres

million 
kilograms

million kilo-
watt hours

1  the presentation of the consumption data was aligned with our Corporate responsibility report.

  dp-dhl.com/en/responsibility.html

The basis for calculating our CO2 emissions, the development of our CO2 efficiency 
as well as detailed consumption data will be available in the Corporate Responsibility 
Report, which we plan to publish in the middle of April 2013 on our website.

76

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
Using our expertise and network for social responsibility
As part of our Group programme GoHelp, we support the UN with disaster manage-
ment, free of charge. At airports selected together with the UN, our professional aviation 
experts help prepare staff members for disasters in multi-day training sessions known 
as Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD). In the training sessions a risk analysis is 
carried out and participants draft an airport surge capacity report. In the reporting year, 
“GARD” training sessions were held at airports in Lebanon, Turkey and Indonesia.

With our DHL Disaster Response Teams (DRT s) we provide on-site support when 
disaster strikes. Our worldwide network is made up of more than 400 volunteer logistics 
specialists who are able to be deployed to a disaster area within 72 hours of receiving 
the call from the UN. Once on site at the airport our DRT s support organisations with 
the logistical handling of relief supplies. In 2012, our DRT s were deployed to Guatemala 
after the earthquake and to the Philippines after the tropical storm.

As one of the world’s largest employers with a high demand for qualified employ-
ees, we have committed ourselves to improving the education and employability of young 
people. We are a partner of the organisations Teach For All and SOS Children’s Villages. 
Together we aim to help children and young people get a better start in their future. In 
the reporting year, we supported organisations in 14 countries, including three new 
partnerships with SOS Children’s Villages in Mexico, Kenya and Ghana.

As part of local partnerships, our employees supplement our financial support by 
volunteering. For example, they give children and young people a look into their every-
day work life and help them make their own career choices.

With Global Volunteer Day and the Living Responsibility Fund we support our 
employees’ volunteering activities. In the reporting year, around 62,000 employees took 
part in more than 1,000 projects in 114 countries on Global Volunteer Day. These pro-
jects include a variety of volunteer activities at a local level. In addition, 104 projects 
from the Living Responsibility Fund were supported in the reporting year. 

The We Help Each Other (WHEO) fund enables employees to donate money for 
colleagues affected by a natural disaster. In the reporting year, 183 employees were 
 supported with around €75,000.

Our sustainable performance is evaluated independently

International investors and analysts monitor and evaluate how sustainable a com-
pany’s business is. As a result of our commitment in the reporting year, we were again 
listed in FTSE4Good and in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index. In addition, other 
independent institutions also rated our activities: Oekom Research Corporate Rating 
assessed us for the first time as a Prime Investment and we led the Transport & Logistics 
sector in the Newsweek Green Global 500 Ranking. More detailed results will be pro-
vided in the Corporate Responsibility Report, which we plan to publish in the middle 
of April 2013 on our website.

Group Management Report
Non-Financial Performance  Indicators
Corporate responsibility

  dp-dhl.com/en/responsibility/ 
disaster-management.html

  dp-dhl.com/en/responsibility/ 
championing-education.html

  dp-dhl.com/en/responsibility.html

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

77

Procurement

A.70  Procurement expenses, 2012

Slight rise in expenditure

Volume: €9.5 billion

  7 %  Production systems
  8 %   network supplies

10 %  real estate

11 %  transport services

12 %  air fleet

13 %  ground fleet

15 %  IT and communications

24 %  services

  strategic focus, page 100 f.

  glossary, page 218

In the year under review, the Group centrally purchased goods and services having 
a total value of approximately €9.5 billion (previous year: €9.1 billion). This figure no 
longer includes material services in the area of real estate because Procurement has 
reduced its activities in this area. Instead, the total includes transport services for the 
first time. Although these services are generally procured by the divisions, Procurement 
provided even greater support for these purchases in the reporting year.

Procurement helps the divisions to reduce expenditures and make cost-effective 
investments. In the reporting year, it continued to support the area of Aviation. The 
18 Airbus A 300-600 aircraft purchased in the previous year have been successively con-
verted to cargo aircraft. We also negotiated maintenance contracts for these aircraft in 
the reporting year. As a result, the Group was able to save around €3 million; to date, 
13 of the 18 aircraft have been put into operation. Furthermore, so-called “ACMI lease 
agreements” (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance Leases) were concluded for nine 
Boeing 737 cargo planes. This resulted in savings of around €4 million. The aircraft were 
integrated into the DHL network.

The MAIL division was supported with the selection and order placement of new 
sorting solutions. In the reporting year, eleven locations were equipped with additional 
sorting technology. Procurement helped the GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division 
with its new Forwarding environment project, for example with the tenders for software 
and system integrators.

In 2012, Procurement again focused on evaluating suppliers and developing the 
Group’s relationships with them. This included, amongst other things, expanding the 
financing and payment model Supplier Finance, which we have established in Germany 
and other European countries. It was also introduced in the United States, South Korea 
and Hong Kong in 2012. Since then, more than 100 suppliers have been participat-
ing. The Group benefits from this model because it allows the divisions to optimise 
their working capital. Our suppliers also benefit, as the model opens up advantageous 
 financing options.

Centralised Procurement supports divisions

Procurement is a centralised function in the Group. The heads of Global Sourcing 
and their 15 Corporate Category Managers work closely with four heads of regional 
procurement organisations and report to the head of Corporate Procurement. This 
structure allows us to both  bundle the Group’s worldwide requirements and meet the 
local needs of the business units.

We also offer procurement services provided by our operating divisions to custom-
ers with support from Procurement. In the reporting year, these primarily included 
services in the areas of transport, packaging as well as maintenance, repair & operations.

In the reporting year, DP Fleet GmbH, the vehicle fleet management company in 
Germany and France, as well as Partnerstore International, were transferred to Procure-
ment.  Vehicle fleet management operated by the divisions outside of these countries 
was not affected by this. By consolidating our expertise in vehicle procurement and 
operations, we are even better able to meet the high demands of this area.

78

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
Group Management Report
Non-Financial Performance  Indicators
Research and development

  dp-dhl.com/en/responsibility.html

Environmentally conscious procurement

We strive to take greater account of environmental aspects when procuring products 
and services. The procurement teams responsible for the various regions and  material 
groups work together on this. In the reporting year, for example, Procurement and the 
Real Estate Lease department jointly negotiated a more economical lighting technology, 
with which the divisions will retrofit their locations.

As a logistics company, a low-emissions vehicle fleet plays a central role in our 
 efforts to protect the environment. In Germany, 1,324 new 3.5-tonne transporters and 
575 Sprinters were put into operation, resulting in considerable reductions in nitrogen 
oxide and soot particle emissions. In addition, Procurement assisted the divisions in pur-
chasing vehicles with alternative drive systems such as electric and hybrid  technologies.
We describe the individual projects and the CO2 savings achieved in our  Corporate 
Responsibility Report, which we plan to publish on our website in the middle of April 2013.

Purchasing systems for efficient procurement

The use of IT applications to procure goods and services more efficiently increased 
again considerably in the reporting year. Our GeT electronic ordering system, for  instance, 
was used mainly in Germany, the United States, Mexico and other European countries. 
In the reporting year, we introduced the system in 14 countries in the Asia Pacific region 
as well as in seven countries in Latin America. Further expansion is planned in Europe 
and Latin America in 2013.

We also use e-sourcing to make our processes efficient and transparent. This allows 

us to handle all the steps in the tender process electronically.

research and development

As a service provider, the Group does not engage in research and development 
activities in the narrower sense and therefore has no significant expenses to report in 
this connection.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

79

Customers and quality

Innovative technology translates into competitive advantage in the mail business

We operate a first-class, efficient and environmentally friendly nationwide transport 
and delivery network in Germany consisting of 82 mail centres and 33 parcel centres that 
process more than 64 million letters and more than 3 million parcels each working day. 
In the reporting year, the high level of automation in our mail business, which is over 
90 %, saw a further slight increase. In our parcel network, we have meanwhile increased 
our overall sorting capacity by almost 30 % by upgrading existing facilities.

Our customers rate the quality of our services based on whether posted items reach 
their destinations quickly, reliably and undamaged. We again achieved excellent results 
in letter transit times within Germany: according to surveys conducted by Quotas, a 
quality research institute, 95 % of the letters posted during our daily opening hours or 
before final post box collections were delivered to their recipients the next day. In order 
to ensure this level of quality in the long term, our quality management is based on a 
system that is certified each year by TÜV Nord, a recognised certification and testing 
organisation.

In the parcel business, items usually reach their recipients the next working day. This 
is based on parcels that were collected from business customers and that were delivered 
the next day. Since 2008, our internal system for measuring parcel transit times has been 
certified by TÜV Rheinland.

For international letters, transit times are determined by the International Post 
Corporation.  Here  we  rank  amongst  the  top  postal  companies.  According  to  EU 
 specifications, 85 % of all cross-border letters posted within the EU must be delivered 
within three days of posting. We exceeded this specification again significantly in the 
reporting year.

Our  E-Postbrief  product  meets  high  data  protection  and  security  standards  as 
 described in the risk report. In 2012, we developed more user-friendly features for this 
product: E-PostIdent – our real-time identification service – simplifies the online sale 
of products that require identification, such as those with age restrictions. E-Postbrief 
Komfortzahlung allows private customers to pay bills easily and securely from the com-
fort of home.

Since the beginning of 2012, the more than 20,000 Deutsche Post points of sale have 
been operated exclusively by partners, the majority of which are retail stores. As a result, 
the average weekly opening times of the approximately 13,000 retail outlets and more 
than 7,000 sales points increased from 50 to 52 hours. The annual survey conducted 
by Kundenmonitor Deutschland, the largest consumer study in Germany, also shows a 
high acceptance of our partner retail outlets: over 92 % of customers are satisfied with 
our quality and service (previous year: 90 %). In addition, impartial  mystery  shoppers 
from TNS  Infratest tested the postal outlets in retail stores approximately 30,000 times 
over the year. The result showed that more than 93 % of customers were served within 
3 minutes.

A central characteristic of the quality of our products is environmental protection. In 
Germany, we employ a TÜV Nord-certified environmental management system in our 
mail and parcel businesses. We offer private and business customers climate-neutral 
shipping options with our GoGreen products. We are also testing vehicles with hybrid 
and electric drive technology, as well as energy-saving lighting in our facilities.

  opportunities and risks, page 93

  Corporate responsibility, page 76

80

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Non-Financial Performance  Indicators
Customers and quality

  strategic focus, page 102

  dhl.com/mydhl

Service quality translates into competitive advantage in the express business

We want to offer our customers the best possible service quality. This objective places 
high demands on our products, processes, infrastructure and employees. Therefore, we 
keep a constant eye on the changing requirements of our customers and  measure our 
services by, for instance, using mystery shoppers and through direct dialogue with cus-
tomers on various media platforms. As part of our First Choice initiative, we work steadily 
on improving our internal and external processes.

The new MyDHl online portal was launched in the reporting year. Using a single 
login, private and business customers can access all DHL shipping services, which they 
can  book   individually  and  directly.  Small  and  medium-sized  businesses  benefit  in 
 particular from the simplified procedures and the additional information, for example 
regarding automatic tracking and tracing as well as exports. The portal is available in 
more than 100 countries.

We use state-of-the-art quality control centres to track shipments worldwide and 
dynamically adjust the related processes. Should unforeseen events occur, flight and 
shipment routes can be altered immediately. At the quality control centres, our standard 
service includes tracking all premium products – for example, Medical Express ship-
ments – until they are delivered. In the case of sensitive shipments, we also immediately 
take all necessary measures to ensure that the items reach the recipient at the agreed time 
and in the agreed quality. Our service quality is also appreciated by external institutions. 
For instance, in the reporting year, we were awarded the title of Best Express Company 
by the logistics portal arabiansupplychain.com in the United Arab Emirates.

Our operational safety, compliance with standards and the quality of service at 
our facilities are reviewed regularly in co-operation with government authorities. More 
than 200 locations have been certified by the Transported Asset Protection Association 
(TAPA), one of the world’s most renowned safety associations, making us the leader 
in this area. The certification extends to all central hubs and gateways, including the 
North Asia Hub in Shanghai. In 2010, we began recording all certification processes 
using a uniform system and managing them globally. Since then, we have achieved ISO 
9001 certification in 34 European countries. In 2012, we expanded the certification 
programme to the Americas and Asia Pacific. Now we are certified in 106 countries 
worldwide. Moreover, we meet the fundamental ISO 14001 environmental management 
standard in 27 European countries.

Customer proximity translates into competitive advantage in the freight forwarding 
business

In an effort to better understand our customers’ expectations and in order to fulfil 
their needs to their utmost satisfaction, we again surveyed more than 18,000 custom-
ers in 49 countries to find out how satisfied they are with our services. Those surveyed 
account for 90 % of total revenue in the Global Forwarding business unit. The Freight 
business unit surveyed more than 2,500 customers in 14 European countries. We carried 
out a detailed analysis of the results and introduced measures to further improve our 
products and services.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

81

  strategic focus, page 102

Since we strive to a make sustainable improvements, we follow the First Choice 
Way, which takes our successful First Choice methodology one step further and is based 
upon the principle of continuous improvement. It is being entrenched in all our busi-
ness processes, in performance management as well as in employee and organisational 
develop ment. In 2012, we trained an additional 5,700 employees in the First Choice Way 
and completed 274 improvement measures, around one third of which were centred 
around a specific customer.

Many customers have confirmed that they appreciate our process of  continuous 
improvement  and  benefit  directly  from  it.  For  instance,  our  long-time  customer 
 Colgate Palmolive Andina honoured us as their best co-operation partner. The Chinese 
 technology group Huawei has bestowed us with the “gold” award for the fifth time as a 
result of our successful co-operation with them.

In our competence centres around the world, we have set up so-called “performance 
dialogues” for the Automotive sector. One example of these dialogues led to an increase 
in on-time deliveries from 60 % to 100 % for a customer in this sector, which exceeded 
their expectations of 90 %.

In the Asia Pacific region, we started the Flexi-tank initiative to offer solutions 
to  customers  in  the  Chemicals  and  Energy  sectors  that  allow  the  shipping  of  large 
 quantities of non-hazardous liquids.

The DHL road freight subsidiary in the USA, Standard Forwarding, received the 
status Partner in the Achieving Excellence Programme from John Deere, the global 
leader in agricultural technology, for the seventh year in a row. The company rates its 
suppliers based on quality, cost management, performance, technical support and speed.

Quality translates into competitive advantage in the supply chain business

In line with our Strategy 2015, we also want to be the provider of choice in the 
SUPPLY CHAIN division. We therefore implement practices and methodologies that 
provide our customers with the highest level of service and the most added value. We 
use globally tested processes to allow us to offer our customers everywhere comparable 
solutions and uniformly high service standards.

In order to measure and monitor the quality of our service, we have defined a 
number of performance indicators. These include safety, productivity and inventory 
accuracy. In 2012, we again achieved more than 95 % of our service standards worldwide. 
Eight out of ten customers surveyed confirmed that DHL is their provider of choice in 
the supply chain business.

With our Path to Quality programme, which we introduced in 2011, we are con-
stantly improving the already high quality of our services and thus ensuring the con-
sistency, transparency and simplicity of logistics processes. Customers recognise the 
benefits of the results achieved using the Path to Quality system. 

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Group Management Report
Non-Financial Performance  Indicators
Brands

  strategic focus, page 96 ff.

brands

A.71  Brands and business units

Brand

Division

brand area

MAIL

• Mail 

 Communication

• Dialogue 
 Marketing
• Value-added 

services

• Press services
• Philately
• Pension service

EXPRESS

GLOBAL  FORWARDING, 
FREIGHT

• express 

• global 

 Forwarding

• Freight

SUPPLY CHAIN

• supply 
Chain

• global Mail
• Parcel  

germany

sub-brand

• Williams lea

Brand management aligned with Group strategy
We align the Deutsche Post and DHL brands consistently with our group  strategy, 
with the aim of remaining the postal service for Germany (Die Post für Deutschland) 
and becoming the logistics company for the world. This is why we work continuously 
to improve the awareness, image and value of our brands.

Independent studies have again shown that we are succeeding: according to the 
BrandZ study conducted by the market research institute Millward Brown, the value of 
the DHL brand grew by 12 % in 2012 to US$7.6 billion. This put DHL in 100th place on the 
list of the most valuable brands in the world. Millward Brown calculates the brand value 
based on the current financial situation along with the contribution the brand makes to 
the company’s business success.

In  2012,  consulting  company  Semion  Brand-Broker  calculated  Deutsche  Post’s 
brand value to be €13,067 million (previous year: €12,946 million). The 1 % increase in 
value again ranks us number six amongst the most valuable German brands. Factors 
analysed included financial value, brand protection, brand image and brand strength.

Employees are the best brand ambassadors

Our  employees  have  an  impact  on  our  brand  image  every  day. This  is  why  we 

 support their important responsibility as brand ambassadors.

With the Extranet, which we launched at the end of 2011, we now reach more than 
17,000 employees, most of whom do not work at a computer workstation. Beyond the 
corporate news and information on offer, the platform now has over 400 internal discus-
sion groups. In 2012, Forum Corporate Publishing e. V. recognised Deutsche Post DHL’s 
Extranet with the silver award in the category Digital Media Employee in the BCP Best 
of Corporate Publishing Award.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

83

 
 
 
 
Group sports activities are the focus of the internal motivational platform known as 
the Deutsche Post Fan Club. With this programme, we support employee participation in 
recreational sports and provide sports clothing. We were able to reach 28,000 employees, 
whether as active participants or as spectators, through these activities in the reporting 
year. We also continued our sponsorship of the Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters (DTM – 
German Touring Car Masters) and use it in our internal and external communications.

E-Postbrief product and MeinPaket.de positioned in the world of sports

In  addition  to  using  the  DTM,  we  communicate  the  services  offered  under  the 
Deutsche Post brand via our partnership with the Deutsche Fußball-Bund (DFB – the 
German football federation). In the reporting year, we expanded our presence with 
the German  women’s national football team and the DFB Cup to include a partnership 
with the  German men’s national team. As a result, Deutsche Post is seen on stadium 
 banners and other advertisements at all high-profile DFB events. As in the previous year, 
 E- Postbrief was the main focus of our brand activities at DFB and DTM events. We also 
raised awareness of our shopping portal MeinPaket.de at select matches.

Digital brand strategy developed for DHL

The growing popularity of digital forms of communication is opening up opportun-
ities for us to showcase the DHL brand over the long term. That is why the main focus 
of our brand efforts for DHL in 2012 was to develop a global digital strategy. We want to 
intelligently mesh the digital world with traditional communication. In the reporting 
year, DHL continued its global, integrated brand campaign, which was designed as a long-
term strategy, as well as its global International Specialists campaign for express delivery.

Partnerships sustainably strengthen DHL brand

Our sponsorship activities are very effective in strengthening the reputation of our 
brands. Our centrally managed DHL global partner programme showcased our brand 
at 130 events in more than 40 countries in 2012. As the official logistics partner of 
 Formel1™, IMG Fashion Weeks, Volvo Ocean Race and the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, 
we achieved a strong international presence for the DHL brand and, at the same time, 
proved our particular logistics expertise – whether transporting race equipment, fashion 
collections, sailing yachts or valuable musical instruments.

FurtHer DeVeloPMents

report on post-balance-sheet date events

No further significant events

There  were  no  significant  events  with  material  effects  on  the  Group’s  earnings, 

 financial position, and assets and liabilities after the balance sheet date.

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Group Management Report
Outlook
Opportunities and risks

outlooK

overall assessment of expected performance

Our strong position as market leader in the German mail and parcel business and in 
nearly all of our logistics activities is the best possible basis for our further growth. We 
expect consolidated EBIT to reach between €2.7 billion and €2.95 billion in financial year 
2013 and the world economy to grow by approximately 3 %, though we anticipate that 
the economy will pick up momentum as the year progresses. A similar development is 
expected for world trade. The MAIL division is likely to contribute between €1.1 billion 
and €1.2 billion to consolidated EBIT. Compared with the previous year, we expect an 
additional improvement in overall earnings to between €2.0 billion and €2.15 billion in 
the DHL divisions. At around €–0.4 billion, the Corporate Center / Other result should 
be on par with the previous year. In 2013, operating cash flow will recover from the one-
time charges in the reporting year and benefit from the expected earnings improvement.

opportunities and risks

oPPortunitY anD risK-Controlling ProCesses

Uniform reporting standards for opportunity and risk-controlling processes

As an internationally operating logistics company, we are faced with numerous 
changes. Our aim is to identify the resulting opportunities and risks at an early stage 
and to manage them with the goal of achieving a sustained increase in enterprise value. 
Our Group-wide opportunity and risk control system facilitates this aim. Each quarter, 
our managers estimate the impact of future scenarios and evaluate the opportunities and 
risks in their departments. Risks can also be reported at any time on an ad hoc basis. The 
approvals required by the risk management process ensure that management is closely 
involved at different hierarchical levels.

Our early identification process leads to uniform reporting standards for risk man-
agement in the Group. We make constant improvements to the IT application used for 
this purpose. We also use a Monte Carlo simulation for the purpose of aggregating risk 
in standard evaluations.

This stochastic model takes the probability of occurrence of the underlying risk and 
rewards into consideration and is based on the law of large numbers. For each risk, one 
million randomly selected scenarios are combined with each other from the distribution 
functions for the individual risks. The resulting totals are shown in a graph of frequency 
of occurrence, which thus acts as an indication of the probability of deviations from the 
budget for each unit reviewed. The graph indicates a smaller range between the absolute 
extreme scenarios within which the earnings for the division have a high probability of 
falling. The following graph shows an example of such a simulation:

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

85

A.72  Monte Carlo simulation

Frequency of occurrence 
in one million simulation steps (incidence density)

bandwidth with 95 % probability

– aa € m

+ bb € m

+ zz € m

Deviation from planned EBIT

  Planned EBIT 
  “Worse than expected” 

  “better than expected”

  Most common value in one million simulation steps (“mode”) 

A.73  Opportunity and risk management process

1  Identify and assess
assess

Define measures

analyse

identify

5  Control
review results

review measures

Monitor early warning indicators

Internal 
auditors 
review 
processes

2  Aggregate and report
review

supplement and change

aggregate

report

3  Overall strategy / risk  
management / compliance
Determine
Manage

4  Operating measures
Plan

implement

  Divisions 

  opportunity and risk-controlling processes 

  board of Management 

  internal auditors

The most important steps in our opportunity and risk management process:

1   Identify and assess:  Opportunities and risks are defined as potential deviations from 
projected earnings. Managers in all divisions and regions provide an estimate of 
our opportunities and risks on a quarterly basis and document relevant actions. 
They use scenarios to assess best, expected and worst cases. Each identified risk is 
assigned to one or more managers, who assess it, monitor it, specify possible pro-
cedures for going forwards and then file a report. The same applies to opportunities. 
The results are compiled in a database.

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Group Management Report
Outlook
Opportunities and risks

2   Aggregate and report:  The control units responsible collect the results, evaluate them 
and review them for plausibility. If individual financial effects overlap, this is noted 
in our database and taken into account when compiling them. After being approved 
by the department head, all results are passed on to the next level in the hierarchy. 
The “aggregate and report” step is complete when Corporate Controlling reports to 
the Group Board of Management on the significant opportunities and risks as well 
as any overall impact each division might experience. In addition, opportunities 
and risks are aggregated for key organisational levels. We use two methods for this. 
In the first method, we calculate a possible spectrum of results for the divisions 
and add the respective scenarios together. The totals for “worst case” and “best case” 
indicate the total spectrum of results for the division in question. Within these 
 extremes, the total “expected cases” shows current expectations. The second method 
involves use of a Monte Carlo simulation, the results of which are regularly included 
in the opportunity and risk reports to the Board of Management at the divisional 
level.

3   Overall strategy:  The Group Board of Management decides on the system that will 
be used to analyse and report on opportunities and risks. The reports made by 
Corporate Controlling provide the Board of Management with a regular basis of 
information for the overall management of opportunities and risks.

4   Operating measures:  As part of the strategy, the divisions determine the measures to 
be used to take advantage of opportunities and manage risks. They use cost-benefit 
analyses to assess whether opportunities should be taken and whether risks can be 
avoided, mitigated or transferred to third parties.

5   Control:  For key opportunities and risks, early warning indicators have been defined 
that are monitored constantly by those responsible. Corporate Internal Audit has 
the task of ensuring that the Board of Management’s specifications are adhered to. 
It also reviews the quality of the entire opportunity and risk management operation. 
The control units regularly analyse all parts of the process as well as the reports from 
Internal Audit and the independent auditors with the goal of identifying potential 
for improvement and making adjustments where necessary.

Internal accounting control and risk management system 

(Disclosures required under section 315 (2), number 5 of the Handelsgesetzbuch 

(HGB – German Commercial Code) and explanatory report)

Deutsche Post DHL uses an internal accounting control system to ensure that Group 
accounting adheres to generally accepted accounting principles. This system is intended 
to make sure that statutory provisions are complied with and that both internal and 
 external accounting provide a valid depiction of business processes in figures. All figures 
are to be entered and processed accurately and completely. Accounting mistakes are to 
be avoided in principle and significant assessment errors uncovered promptly.

The control system design comprises organisational and technical measures that 
 extend to all companies in the Group. Centrally standardised accounting guidelines 
govern the reconciliation of the single-entity financial statements and ensure that inter-
national financial reporting standards (EU  IFRS s) are applied in a uniform manner 
throughout the Group. All Group companies are required to use a standard chart of 
accounts. Often, accounting processes are pooled in a shared services centre in order 
to centralise and standardise them. The IFRS financial statements of the separate Group 
companies are recorded in a standard, SAP-based system and then processed at a central 
location where one-step consolidation is performed. Other components of our control 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

87

system include automatic plausibility reviews and system validations of the account-
ing data. In addition, manual checks are carried out regularly at a decentralised level 
by those responsible locally (by a chief financial officer, for example) and at a central 
level by Corporate Accounting and Reporting, Taxes and Corporate Finance at the 
Corporate Center.

Over and above the aforementioned internal accounting control system and risk 
management structures, Corporate Internal Audit is an essential component of the 
Group’s  controlling  and  monitoring  system.  Using  risk-based  auditing  procedures, 
 Corporate Internal Audit regularly examines the processes related to financial report-
ing and reports its results to the Board of Management. Upstream and downstream 
checks and analyses of the reported data are performed under chronological aspects. 
If necessary, we call in outside experts, for instance in the case of pension provisions. 
Finally, the Group’s standardised process for preparing financial statements using a cen-
trally administered financial statements calendar guarantees a structured and efficient 
accounting process.

oPPortunities

Opportunities arising from market trends and our market position

Our business is impacted by a variety of external factors that offer us numerous 

opportunities.

We believe that the global market will grow. Advancing globalisation means that 
the logistics industry will continue to grow much faster than the individual national 
economies and the world economy as a whole. This is especially true of Asia, where 
trade flows will continue to increase both within the continent and to other regions. As 
the market leader, our benefit from this increase will be above average based on our DHL 
divisions. This also applies to regions such as South America and the Middle East, which 
continue to see robust growth. We are likewise well positioned in the emerging econ-
omies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico (BRIC + M) and plan to take  advantage 
of arising opportunities in these markets.

The sustained trend towards outsourcing presents an additional opportunity for our 
Group. Especially in times of economic uncertainty, companies need to reduce costs and 
streamline business processes. This is why firms outsource activities that are not part 
of their core business. Supply chains are therefore becoming more complex and more 
international but are also more prone to disruptions. For this reason, customers want 
stable, integrated logistics solutions, which is what we provide with our broad-based 
service portfolio. We see growth opportunities and a clear competitive advantage in this 
area, in particular due to the close co-operation of the DHL divisions.

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Opportunities and risks

  glossary, page 218

The booming online marketplace represents another opportunity for us in that it is 
creating demand for transporting documents and goods. The B2C market is experiencing 
double-digit growth, particularly due to the rapid rise in digital retail trade. This has 
created high growth potential for the national and international parcel business, which 
we intend to tap into by expanding our parcel network.

Finally,  greater  environmental  awareness  on  the  part  of  our  customers  brings 
 opportunities  for  above-average  growth.  Customers  want  to  improve  their  carbon 
 efficiency, which is why they are increasingly requesting energy-efficient transport and 
climate-neutral products. We lead our sector in this area, offering carbon-neutral mail, 
parcel and express products plus air and ocean freight transport.

Opportunities in the divisions
In the strategic focus section, we have described the market opportunities we see in 
the various divisions and the strategies and goals we are pursuing to take advantage of 
these opportunities.

  Page 96 ff.

risKs

Risk categories and specific risks

The risks set out in the following are those which we presently consider to have a 
significant, potentially negative, impact on our earnings, financial position and assets 
and liabilities. They are not necessarily the only risks to which the Group is exposed. 
Our business activities could also be adversely affected by additional factors of which 
we are currently unaware or which we do not yet consider to be material.

Risks arising from the political and regulatory environment

Risks associated with the general business environment primarily arise from the fact 
that the Group provides some of its services in a regulated market. A large number of 
postal services rendered by Deutsche Post AG and its subsidiaries are subject to sector- 
specific regulation by the bundesnetzagentur (German federal network agency), pursuant 
to the Postgesetz (PostG – German Postal Act). This regulatory authority  approves or 
reviews prices, formulates the terms of downstream access and has special supervisory 
powers to combat market abuse. This general regulatory risk could lead to a decline in 
revenue and earnings in the event of negative decisions.

In 2011, the regulatory authority announced a benchmark decision specifying the 
conditions that would apply in 2012 and 2013 to regulation under the price-cap proced-
ure for mail prices requiring approval. This stipulates that the general rate of inflation 
and the expected productivity growth rate for Deutsche Post AG are the key factors 
applicable to mail prices subject to approval. Prices must be lowered if the inflation 
rate in the reference period is lower than the productivity growth rate specified by the 
regulatory authority. In the year under review, the regulatory authority approved the 
prices to be charged in 2013 for the products regulated under the price-cap procedure.

  glossary, page 218

  glossary, page 218

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89

As announced in June, the tax authorities modified certain tax assessments issued 
to Deutsche Post AG in the third quarter of 2012. The resulting additional VAT  payment 
amounted to €482 million after deducting outstanding tax refund claims and was paid 
by the end of the third quarter. The decision resulted from an extensive review of com-
plex issues pertaining to tax law and relates to the period from 1998 to 30 June 2010. 
The amended law on VAT for postal services took effect the following day. The Group 
had already recognised provisions for a large part of the additional VAT payment. In 
addition, the tax authorities reviewed a number of postal services previously regarded 
as VAT-exempt to determine whether they are subject to taxes retroactively. Although 
varying interpretations of the facts are possible, including with respect to the application 
of European and German VAT law, the Group has accepted the tax assessments. This 
concludes all VAT matters in dispute for the period in question, provides legal certainty 
and avoids drawn-out legal proceedings with uncertain outcomes.

Since 1 July 2010, as a result of the revision of the relevant tax exemption provi-
sions, the VAT exemption has only applied to specific universal services in Germany 
that are not subject to individually negotiated agreements or provided on special terms 
(discounts etc.). Deutsche Post AG does not believe that the legislative amendment fully 
complies with the applicable specifications of European Community law. Due to the 
legal uncertainty resulting from the new legislation, Deutsche Post AG is endeavouring 
to clarify certain key issues with the tax authorities. Although Deutsche Post AG is 
 implementing the required measures to a large extent, the differing legal opinions on 
the part of Deutsche Post AG and the tax authorities will be judicially clarified.

Risks arising from market and sector-specific conditions

In addition to the regulatory environment, market and sector-specific conditions 

have a significant effect on the performance of our Group.

Our business is closely linked to the growth of the international economy and the 
performance of the logistics market – a situation that presents opportunities, but also 
entails risk. Recessive tendencies in the general economy and volatile financial markets 
act to reinforce uncertainty regarding future market figures and impact our business. 
Risk factors stem in particular from the sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone and 
 uncertainty about future taxation and spending policies in the United States. 

We counteract this dependency by constantly improving our processes, identifying 
trends of the future early on and closely following market trends. Despite the volatile 
climate, demand for logistics services rose in 2012 and our revenues increased accord-
ingly. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of an economic downturn in specific 
regions and a stagnation or decrease in transport quantities.

Thanks to our sound preparations, the experience we gathered during the last eco-
nomic crisis and our global presence, we regard the likelihood of market conditions 
significantly affecting our forecast earnings as low.

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Opportunities and risks

Security risks

According to security agencies, organised crime and terrorism present particularly 
high risks for western corporations. However, no specific threats to people, institutions 
or enterprises are known to us at present. We nonetheless share the assessment of the 
authorities and take the heightened security risk seriously. For this reason, we analyse 
global threat levels on an ongoing basis and conduct regular reviews of our security 
concepts, adapting them where necessary. We also have various programmes used to 
protect sensitive employee and customer data. In this manner, the Group complies with 
its duty of care and lowers the risk of liability.

Deutsche Post DHL’s security concepts fulfil the statutory requirements, as con-
firmed by numerous reviews by the authorities. Moreover, we shall continue to work 
together with all relevant security agencies, air traffic authorities, representatives of 
national legislative authorities and industry associations in order to ensure a high level 
of security and a low probability of any significant incidents occurring. Not only shall 
we comply in full with the security guidelines and regulations enacted globally or by 
individual countries or authorities, we shall also add our own high standards to them. 
We intend to make a contribution to further improving all aspects of security in the 
interest of our customers, business partners and employees.

Risks arising from corporate strategy

Over the past years, the Group has ensured that its activities are well positioned in 
the world’s fastest growing regions and markets. We have also created efficient structures 
in all areas to allow us to flexibly adapt our capacities and costs to demand as a pre-
requisite for lasting, profitable business success. With respect to the strategic orientation 
of the Group, we are now focusing on our core competencies in the mail and logistics 
businesses with an eye towards growing organically and simplifying our processes for 
the benefit of customers.

In the MAIL division, we are responding to the challenges presented by the  structural 
change from a physical to a digital business. We have counteracted the risk arising from 
changing demand by expanding our range of services. Due to the e-commerce boom, 
we expect our parcel business to continue growing robustly in the coming years and are 
therefore extending our parcel network. We are also expanding our range of  electronic 
communications  services,  securing  our  standing  as  the  quality  leader  and,  where 
 possib le, making our transport and delivery costs more flexible. We follow develop-
ments in the market very closely. Although customer demand will change significantly 
over the long term, we regard the risk to successful operations in the MAIL division as 
low due to the measures introduced.

In the EXPRESS division, our future success depends above all on general factors 
such as trends in the competitive environment, costs and quantities transported.  After 
having  spent  recent  years  successfully  restructuring  our  business  and  substantially 
 improving cost structures, we are focusing on growth in our international business. We 
anticipate an increase in shipment volumes on routes to and from Asia in particular. 
Based on this assumption, we are investing in our network, our services, our  employees 
and the DHL brand. Against the backdrop of the past developments and the overall 
outlook, we do not see any unusual strategic risk for the EXPRESS division.

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91

In the GLOBAL  FORWARDING,  FREIGHT division we purchase transport services 
from airlines, shipping companies and freight carriers rather than providing them our-
selves. As a result, in a worst-case scenario there is a risk that we shall not be able to pass 
on all price increases to our customers. The extent of the risk essentially depends on the 
trend in the supply, demand and price of transport services as well as the duration of 
our contracts. Our comprehensive knowledge in the area of brokering transport services 
helps us to minimise risk and take advantage of available opportunities.

Our SUPPLY CHAIN division provides customers in a variety of industries with solu-
tions along the entire logistics chain. Our success is highly dependent on our custom-
ers’ business trends. Since we offer customers a widely diversified range of products 
in different sectors all over the world, we can diversify our risk portfolio and balance 
out the incumbent risks. Moreover, our future success also depends on our ability to 
continuously improve our existing business and to grow in our most important markets.

Risks arising from internal processes

Logistics  services  are  generally  provided  in  bulk  and  require  a  complex  oper-
ational infrastructure with high quality standards. To consistently guarantee reliability 
and  on-time delivery, processes must be organised so as to proceed smoothly with no 
 technical or personnel-related glitches. Any weaknesses with regard to posting and 
collection, sorting, transport, warehousing or delivery could seriously compromise 
our competitive position. We therefore adapt all processes to current circumstances as 
needed. We also take preventive measures to guard against disruptions or malfunctions 
in our operational processes. Should disruptions nonetheless occur, contingency plans 
will go into effect to minimise the consequences.

Overall, we regard the probability that the Group will experience significant  effects 
due to business interruptions as low. In addition, some risks from interruptions to 
business are reduced by our insurance policies. We furthermore use our First  Choice 
methodology to continuously improve our processes and align them even more closely 
to the requirements of customers. Should this involve capital expenditure, the Board of 
Management decides on any sums in excess of €25 million. Board of Management com-
mittees make decisions on investments of more than €10 million, with a lower threshold 
of €5 million applying to Corporate Center / Other. The Board of Management members 
are regularly informed of investment decisions so that they can identify any significant 
risk early and take the necessary countermeasures.

As a service provider, we do not conduct research and development in the narrower 

sense. There are therefore no material risks to report in this area.

Risks arising from information technology

Security of our information systems plays an important role for us. The Information 
Security Committee, a subcommittee of the IT Board, has defined standards, procedures 
and guidelines based on ISO 27001, the international standard for information security 
management. In addition, Group Risk Management, IT Audit, Data Protection and 
 Corporate Security monitor and assess IT risk on an ongoing basis. The goal is con-
tinuous IT system operation and the prevention of unauthorised access to our systems 
and databases.

  strategic focus, page 102

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Opportunities and risks

Our processes can only run seamlessly if our essential IT systems are always avail-
able. To ensure this, we have designed our systems to protect against complete system 
failures. In addition to third-party data centres, we operate two central data centres in 
the Czech Republic and Malaysia. Our systems are thus geographically separate and 
can be replicated locally.

Access to our systems and data is limited. Employees can only access the data they 
need to do their job. All systems and data are backed up on a regular basis and critical 
data are replicated across data centres.

All software is updated frequently to address bugs, close potential gaps in security 
and increase functionality. We employ a patch management process, a defined proce-
dure for managing software upgrades, to control risks that could arise from outdated 
software or from software upgrades.

We make all efforts to manage the low-probability, high-impact incidents in order 
to provide the high level of service that our customers have come to expect. Despite 
these measures, an element of risk involving medium to high financial consequences 
cannot be ruled out entirely.

Security is our pledge for the E-Postbrief product. All attempts to attack the soft-
ware have been repelled to date. In 2012, the product passed its second surveillance 
audit. This annual audit is carried out by the German Federal Office for Information 
 Security in accord ance with ISO 27001. In addition, the Unabhängiges Landes zentrum 
für Daten schutz Schleswig-Holstein (Schleswig- Holstein independent data protection 
centre) certified that the E-Postbrief product complies with data protection  regulations.

Risks arising from environmental management

Our  Group-wide  risk  management  system  also  monitors  environmental  policy 
 developments. At present, we are not aware of any environmental risks that significantly 
impact the Group’s earnings, financial position and assets and liabilities.

Risks arising from human resources

It is the motivation and competence of our employees that make a good impression 
on our customers and thus shape our long-term success. Demographic change and in-
creased competition for qualified specialists and executives mean that the pool of poten-
tial young talent is becoming smaller, particularly in our core market of  Germany. The 
risk therefore exists that we may not be able to recruit and retain a sufficient number of 
suitable employees. We plan to take various measures to decrease this risk. For example, 
we place great importance on providing a motivating work environment and suitable 
professional and employee development programmes. The results of our  employee survey 
testify to our progress in this area: employee approval ratings for “working conditions” 
improved by one percentage point to 77 %, and the ratings for “learning and develop-
ment” even rose by two percentage points to 70 %.

  employees, page 73

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93

  employees, page 72

  Health and safety, page 75

  note 47

In many countries, the age structure and social structures are undergoing a notable 
shift. To adequately identify and counteract the resulting risk relating to employees’ work 
capacity and ageing, we have developed an analysis and planning instrument known as 
Strategic Workforce Management, which supplies strategically well-founded answers 
based on fact.

The  generations  Pact entered into by Deutsche Post AG with the trade unions is 
geared specifically towards demographic conditions in Germany. The Generations Pact 
ensures that older employees can remain on the job whilst at the same time improving 
employment opportunities for young people.

In 2012, we paid particular attention to the share of women in management pos-
itions. As part of our Vacancy Commitment, we plan to fill 25 % to 30 % of all manage-
ment positions becoming vacant with women in the future.

According to estimates from the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, 
there is a risk of chronic, i. e., non-contagious, disease increasing substantially all over 
the world. We are responding to this risk with a health management programme, which 
we continuously update.

Although we find the financial impact of these risks to be moderate, we see the 

probability of occurrence as low due to the measures we have implemented.

Financial risks
We report on the management of financial risks in the notes to the consolidated 
financial statements. We do not consider the risks described therein to represent a threat 
to the continued existence of the Group as a going concern.

Risks from pending legal proceedings

On 5 November 2012, the Bundeskartellamt (federal cartel office) initiated proceed-
ings against Deutsche Post AG based on suspicion of abusive behaviour with respect to 
agreements on mail transport with major customers. Based upon information from 
Deutsche Post AG’s competitors, the authorities initially suspected that the company had 
violated the  provisions of German and European antitrust law. Deutsche Post AG does 
not share this opinion. However, should the authorities find their suspicions confirmed, 
they may require Deutsche Post AG to refrain from certain acts or impose fines.

The European Commission’s state aid ruling of 25 January 2012 concluded the for-
mal investigation that it had initiated on 12 September 2007. In its review of the funding 
of civil servants’ pensions, the European Commission concluded that Deutsche Post AG 
had received illegal state aid. It said that the pension relief granted to Deutsche Post AG 
by the Bundesnetzagentur during the price approval process led to Deutsche Post AG 
 receiving  a  benefit,  which  it  must  repay  to  the  Federal  Republic  of  Germany.  The 
 Commission also stated that the precise amount to be repaid was to be calculated by 
the Federal Republic. In a press release, the European Commission had referred to an 
amount of between €500 million and €1 billion. Deutsche Post AG is of the opinion 
that the Commission’s decision of 25 January 2012 cannot withstand legal review and 
has submitted an appeal to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. The Federal 
Republic of Germany has likewise appealed the decision.

To  implement  the  state  aid  ruling,  the  federal  government  on  29 May 2012 
called upon Deutsche Post AG to make a payment of €298 million, including interest. 
Deutsche Post AG paid that amount to a trustee on 1 June 2012 and appealed the recov-
ery order. The payment made was reported solely in the balance sheet under non-current 

94

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Outlook
Opportunities and risks

  note 50

  Financial position, page 42 f.

assets; the earnings position remained unaffected. The European Commission has thus 
far not expressed its final acceptance of the calculation of the state aid to be repaid. It 
cannot be ruled out that Deutsche Post AG will be required to make a higher payment. 
More information about the state aid investigation and other legal proceedings is 

provided in the notes.

Insurable risks

Our financing and insurance strategy also enabled us to make significant savings in 

2012. It separates insurable risk into two groups:

The first group comprises risks with a high probability of occurrence and low indi-
vidual cost. These risks are insured via what is known as a captive, an insurance company 
owned by the Group that is able to insure such risks at a lower cost than third-party 
 insurers. The majority of our insurance expenditure is incurred for this risk group, which 
along with lower costs offers other advantages. Costs remain stable as the Group is less 
affected by changes in the availability and price of outside insurance. We receive reliable 
data upon the basis of which we can analyse risk with a high probability of occurrence 
and low individual cost. We can then set minimum standards and targets for such risk.
The second group consists of risks that have a low probability of occurrence but 
could entail high losses, such as air transport risks. These risks are transferred to third-
party insurers.

oVerall assessMent oF risK Position

No foreseeable risk to the Group

International economic output has a significant impact on the performance of the 
logistics market and thus generally affects our revenue and earnings. However, the 
strengths of our business model are coming to the fore in the current volatile environ-
ment. Deutsche Post DHL is well positioned in terms of its operations. Strategically, 
the Group is positioned to benefit from momentum on the markets. In previous years, 
we further improved our cost structures and made them more flexible. In Germany, 
our future corporate profits could be affected by changes in the regulatory conditions 
pertaining to the domestic mail market. This assessment is also reflected in the credit 
ratings awarded by the ratings agencies.

To  assess  the  overall  risk,  we  evaluate  scenarios  for  the  individual  risks  and 
 opportunities. We take the sum of the best case and worst case scenarios to calculate 
the total spectrum of results for each Group division. The sum of the expected cases of 
occurrence indicates the result currently estimated by those in charge. The Monte Carlo 
simulation additionally takes the probability distribution of the individual opportunities 
and risks into account.

On the whole, based on the Group’s early warning system and in the estimation 
of the Board of Management of the Group, in the past financial year there were no 
identifiable risks for the Group which, individually or collectively, cast doubt upon the 
Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, nor are any such risks apparent in the 
foreseeable future. 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

95

  Customers and quality, page 80 ff.

  shares, page 34

  employees, page 73

strategic focus

CorPorate strategY

Strategy 2015 reaches half time

In 2009 we presented our Strategy 2015, which pursues three key objectives: we 
want to become the provider of choice for customers, an attractive investment for share-
holders and the employer of choice for our staff.

In the reporting year, significant progress was achieved in all three objectives, which 
is reflected, for example, in customer satisfaction rates, the development of our share price 
and our financial figures as well as the encouraging results of our annual employee survey.
Our successes in these areas result from a combination of the operational strength 
of our divisions, market developments and global trends, all of which had a positive 
 impact on our business. With an eye towards the goals we have set for 2015, we see three 
key strategic approaches: a strong divisional focus, Group-wide initiatives that leverage 
our operating business and a unified corporate culture and value set.

A.74  Strategic approaches

Divisional focus

MAIL

EXPRESS

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

SUPPLY CHAIN 

Group-wide initiatives

Innovations

Infrastructure

Go to market

Unified corporate culture

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strategY anD goals oF tHe DiVisions

A.75  Strategic priorities by division

Markets

Customers

employees

MAIL

EXPRESS

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

SUPPLY CHAIN

• use online competitive 

advantage.
• E-Postbrief.
• online advertising.
• europe’s largest platform 

for online targeting.

• our own online shopping 
portal, MeinPaket.de.

• use strong position in growth 

markets.

• Focus markets: BRIC + M.
• strengthen intra-regional 

• Continuously expand global 
ground and air network.

trade in the americas region.
• expand presence in the asia 

Pacific region.

• improve network in sub- 

saharan africa.

• Deepening expertise in 

focus sectors and strategic 
products.

• ensuring knowledge exchange 

on best practices across 
regions and business units.

• best service and highest 
quality at fair prices.
• state-of-the-art sorting 

• Continuous customer dia-

logue along all interaction 
points.

technology and IT in the mail 
network.

• Quality control centres guar-
antee reliability and speed.

• adapt parcel network to 

increasing volumes.

• largest network of fixed- 
location retail outlets 
in germany.

• new products and services: 
e. g., DHL DOOR-TO-MORE and 
Cool LCL.

• expand expertise in specific 

sectors.

• Continuously expand and 

refine network and processes.
• new LCL lanes between China, 

south Korea and the USA.

• Continuously increasing our 
own performance, efficiency 
and competency.

• globally focused teams offer 
comprehensive solutions 
along the supply chain aimed 
at simplifying customers’ 
business processes.

• innovative generations Pact.
• state-of-the-art tools.
• occupational health and 

safety.
• Childcare.

• “Certified international 

specialist” (CIS) training pro-
gramme for all employees.
• new function-specific training 
modules such as “security” 
and “customer service”.

• strategic NFE project.
• Forward-looking operating 

model with efficient processes 
and modern IT.

• globally harmonised and 
integrated organisation.

• enhancing leadership 

qualities and employee 
commitment.

• attracting new talent and 
retaining and developing 
existing talent.

Profitability

• Make network costs more 

• Continuously monitoring 

• Continuously grow above 

• improving existing and new 

flexible.

costs.

• greater efficiency and lower 
costs through a new parcel 
production system.

• structuring prices as required 

by economic factors.

the market average.
• improve profitability in 
sub-saharan africa.

business on an ongoing basis.

• Managing and significantly 

lowering costs.

• Profitable growth in key 
sectors and countries.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

97

MAIL division

The following strategic approaches are how we aim to meet both today’s and tomor-
row’s challenges. Our central goal is to make a stable and sustainable contribution of at 
least €1 billion to the Group’s earnings.

•  Making costs more flexible:  To achieve this goal, we are adapting our networks to 
changing market conditions and making costs more flexible. We cut costs wherever 
possible and sensible. We also retain the high quality of our services and protect the 
environment. Ideally, we search for solutions that meet several goals at once: a new 
generation of machines in our mail centres, for instance, not only raises the level of 
automation and quality but also lowers production costs and carbon dioxide (CO 2) 
emissions. In our parcel business, a new production system allows us to sort and 
transport parcels more efficiently, saving costs along the way.

•  Providing the highest quality to our customers:  We want to offer our customers the best 
service at the highest level of quality and at fair prices. Therefore, we are modern-
ising the sorting equipment and IT architecture in our mail network on an ongoing 
basis. We are also investing in our parcel network and adapting it to increasing 
volumes on an ongoing basis. In the future, we want to deliver 95 % of all items sent 
in Germany to customers the next day. Moreover, our customers receive real-time 
track and trace data and we are doing this with the environment in mind: the majority 
of our delivery services in Germany will be completely carbon neutral in the future. 
Proximity to our customers is important to us. We operate by far the largest network 
of fixed-location retail outlets in Germany, consisting of over 20,000 outlets and 
sales points. This includes our network of around 2,500 Packstations and around 
1,000 Paketboxes. We are also expanding our successful co-operation with retailers.
•  Motivating our workforce:  The key to high quality and high performance are happy 
and dedicated employees. The current collective agreement in Germany established 
an innovative generations Pact. Furthermore, we demonstrate how much we value 
our people by equipping them with state-of-the-art tools, counselling them on 
health issues and, at some locations, making childcare available.

•  Tapping into new online markets:  We are taking advantage of our expertise in physical 
communications to offer competent digital communications. The internet is already 
strongly facilitating customers’ access to our services, allowing them to calculate 
and purchase postage and also locate retail outlets and Packstations online and by 
mobile telephone. We are also investing in future growth areas in all our businesses: 
beyond our E-Postbrief product, we are active in the growing industry of online 
advertising. We operate Europe’s largest platform for targeting (online advertising 
space marketing), provide the largest online German marketplace for journalistic 
content and are the first parcel delivery service in Germany to operate its own 
 shopping  portal. In addition, we are continuously exanding our online offering to 
include new industries, such as the shipment of food.

  Corporate responsibility, page 76

  employees, page 72

  glossary, page 218

  MeinPaket.de

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Strategic focus

  strategic focus, page 102

EXPRESS division

In 2010, we introduced our FOCUS strategic programme, which involves four areas:
•  Employee motivation:  Our employees are very important to us and constitute our 
main competitive advantage in retaining current customers and winning new ones. 
The Certified International Specialist (CIS) training programme ensures that all 
our employees have the requisite knowledge of the international express business 
at their disposal. In the year under review, we added new modules such as “ security” 
and “customer service”. Training is carried out for specific functions as well as on a 
cross-functional basis. This adds to mutual understanding and reinforces the team 
atmosphere and loyalty to the division. In addition, we regularly honour employees 
who have proved to be International Specialists through special achievements.
•  Service quality:  Our strengths lie in the proximity to our customers and our ongoing 
improvement. We are optimising our workflows to make us the provider of choice 
when it comes to speed, reliability and cost-efficiency. At our quality control  centres, 
we track shipments globally and adapt processes dynamically to enable us to guar-
antee quick delivery, even in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Reliability and 
speed are vital to our position as experts in international shipping.

•  Customer loyalty:  The customer is always the focus of attention of our approximately 
100,000 employees. We place great value on customer opinion and make it as easy 
as possible for our customers to give feedback on our performance, whether via 
conventional customer service or in-person surveys. Moreover, we use our  First 
Choice methodology to constantly review customer behaviour and customer response 
and to draw the necessary conclusions, starting with the customer’s very first contact 
with the call centre, internet site or sales staff all the way to delivery of the shipment 
to the recipient and finally to invoicing.

•  Profitability:  To ensure a stable earnings contribution and growth over the long term, 
we make sustainable investments in our business. We are expanding our hubs and 
gateways so that we can respond to volume growth. We are adding to our aircraft 
fleet to offer customers additional and faster flight connections. Moreover, we con-
tinually monitor costs, improve processes and structure our prices as required by 
economic factors. Detailed reporting systems supply us with the relevant data and 
thus  support profitability management at all levels and in all countries.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

99

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division

We are already well positioned in our markets due to our global product offering in 
air and ocean freight and in overland transport. We aim to continuously achieve growth 
that exceeds the market average and to consolidate our leading position. To achieve this 
goal, we pursue three approaches:

Developing new solutions for our customers

We are constantly developing new products and services. Since June 2012 we have 
been  offering  DHL  DOOR-TO-MORE,  a  door-to-door  delivery  service  from  the  Asia 
 Pacific region, to a number of destination markets in Europe. The product links our 
intercontinental freight traffic with our comprehensive overland transport network in 
Europe. It shortens transit times for our customers by offering streamlined and seam-
less  operations.  With  Cool  LCL  we  now  transport  smaller  volumes  of  temperature- 
sensitive goods with a seamless cold supply chain, meeting the demand for the delivery 
of temperature- sensitive food items.

In addition, we are expanding our expertise in specific sectors. In the Automotive 
sector, our GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division serves most of the world’s leading 
original manufacturers and their most important suppliers. By sharing our expertise and 
industry know-how internationally, we are developing and improving sector- specific 
solutions. In addition, we are setting up a cross-divisional DHL global community to 
serve customers in the Chemicals sector. Emerging markets, increasing regulations and 
the responsibility for controlling future CO 2 emissions have made matters more complex 
for freight forwarders.

Building up a comprehensive transport network

For a freight forwarding company as large as ours, it is essential to continuously 
expand and optimise our network and operations. We continue to focus on the growing 
markets of Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico. In the Americas region, we have 
strengthened intra-regional trade; in the Asia Pacific region we have expanded our 
presence in China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. In Africa, sub-Saharan countries 
are experiencing rapid growth. We are extending our network and, at the same time, 
focusing on improving our profitability in the region.

Since we consolidated the network that links Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia 
last year, we now offer customers flexible, secure and rapid overland transport options. 
We opened new LCL lanes to connect China and South Korea with North, Central and 
South America.

In the Freight business unit, we are making a concerted effort to improve our net-
work and our sales organisation. Since 2012, we have now also been offering our services 
in  Kazakhstan.

Simplifying and standardising processes

In  the  Global  Forwarding  business  unit,  the  strategic  project  New  Forwarding 
 Environment (NFE) picked up significant speed during the reporting year. The goal 
is to develop a forward-looking operating model with efficient processes and state-of-
the-art IT systems. NFE is intended to further underpin our position as industry leader.

  glossary, page 218

100

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Strategic focus

  strategic focus, page 102

We are increasing the transparency and quality of data for sales volumes, customer 
figures,  capacities,  operations  and  freight.  This  way  we  can  manage  our  processes 
 better, standardise products and offer modular services. In the future we intend to have 
one, globally harmonised and unified organisation with dedicated customer service. 
 Customers will benefit from shorter response times, products tailored to their needs 
and targeted communication.

The plan is to realise the NFE project within the entire Global Forwarding business 

unit in the next two to three years.

SUPPLY CHAIN division

Our Growth Through Excellence strategy is aimed at improving our existing busi-

ness on an ongoing basis and achieving profitable growth in our key sectors.

1   Continuous improvement:  We have established three programmes to continuously 
increase our performance, efficiency and competence. The first of these, known 
as Operations Excellence, promotes operational and technical standards aimed at 
guaranteeing the sustainability of our performance. We also apply the proven First 
Choice  methodology to sustain the achievements we have realised and improve on 
them even further. Our Cost Leadership initiative is intended to reduce costs signifi-
cantly and to manage them effectively in order to increase our overall profitability. 
We achieve this by leveraging purchasing efficiency, operating discipline and best 
practices. We thus succeeded in further reducing our direct costs in 2012. With our 
third programme, Organisational Capability, we seek to develop leadership qualities 
and enhance employee commitment. We want to attract new talent and retain and 
develop our existing talent. To this end, we have launched a top talent management 
programme.

2   Profitable  growth:  Our Profitable Growth pillar also consists of three initiatives. 
In  the  Sector  Focus  programme,  we  continuously  deepen  our  expertise  in  our 
sectors of Automotive, Consumer, Energy, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Retail and 
Technology.  Dedicated  global  sector  teams  offer  our  customers  comprehensive 
sector- specific solutions along the entire supply chain and ensure an exchange of 
 knowledge on best practices across regions and business units. In our  Strategic 
Products  Replication initiative, we develop and reproduce logistics solutions aimed 
at simplifying customers’ business processes. In doing so, we apply our proven 
standards and practices. One example is our Technical Services offering.  Technical 
Services refers to processes that are integrated into the respective supply chain 
solutions and which we use to shorten repair cycles and thus notably reduce our 
technology  customers’  warehouse  and  transport  costs.  Thus  far,  in  addition  to 
Technical Services, we have replicated the following strategic products worldwide: 
Airline Business Solutions, E-Fulfilment, Environmental Solutions, Lead Logistics 
Provider, Life Sciences & Healthcare Platform, Maintenance, Repair & Operations 
and Packaging Services. With our Sales Effectiveness programme, we continuously 
improve the performance of our sales organisation by bolstering sales processes and 
customer support, learning to better understand our customers’ business objectives 
and inquiring regularly as to their satisfaction.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

101

grouP-WiDe initiatiVes

Group-wide initiatives complement business strategies

The business strategies of our divisions provide the basis for our Group strategy. 
Cross-divisional initiatives, which are aimed at increasing the satisfaction of our cus-
tomers, employees and investors, complement these strategies.

•  DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation:  In order to deliver on our customer promise and 
to bundle all cross-divisional DHL activities, we have merged our key account manage-
ment,  Global  Customer  Solutions  (GCS),  our  innovation  unit,  DHL  Solutions &  
Innovations (DSI) and our strategic sector management. This allows us to  offer innova-
tive and sector-specific solutions from a single source and to give our  customers a 
competitive advantage. In the reporting year, this unit supported 107 customers with 
a total annual revenue of around €9 billion. Compared with the divisions, this unit 
is seeing faster revenue growth.

•  First Choice Way:  Thus far, our Group-wide initiatives to enhance service quality and 
customer centricity have focused on using uniform instruments to improve internal 
processes. In 2012 we developed First Choice into a management approach, with 
which we support decentralised change and decision-making processes. More than 
300 of these expanded initiatives were implemented in the reporting year.

•  BRIC + M:  We have a high presence and strong growth potential in the emerging 
 economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico (BRIC + M). The Group’s Board 
of Management receives regular updates on our business performance in these 
countries. In the summer of 2012, our CEO also spent several weeks on a trip to 
China to learn about the business conditions and customer requirements there.
•  Personnel:  Despite the demographic change and a shortage of skilled professionals, 
in the future we wish to continue to build a management team staffed by local 
personnel, who can respond quickly to the conditions on the ground. We promote 
diversity within the Group, improve co-operation between the divisions and sup-
port cross-divisional career moves. We also want to increase the share of women in 
executive positions.

•  IT:  We are convinced that in the future IT will be a key value driver for the logistics 
business. Under the direction of our CEO, the Group-wide IT Board has passed 
measures that will make our IT an even greater competitive advantage in the future. 
These include uniform reporting systems, security standards and innovative appli-
cations.

•  Global  Business  Services:  We consolidated the internal services that support the 
 entire Group, including Accounting, IT and Procurement, into our Global Business 
Services. This allows us to make even more efficient use of our resources as well as 
achieve savings and generate additional revenue. We shall continue to expand this 
potential in the coming years.

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Future economic parameters

  Corporate responsibility, page 76 f.

CorPorate Culture

Further developing a unified corporate culture

As a unifying element, our corporate culture is a key factor for success. In order 
to harmonise this culture even more across our divisions, we developed an integrated 
management approach in 2012. The approach sees our executives providing strategic 
 direction and understanding, supporting and working with others on common goals, 
and doing the right thing based upon a clear set of values. In the reporting year, this 
 approach  was  presented  to  375  executives  within  the  Group  in  multi-day  training 
 sessions. Another 1,500 executives are scheduled to receive this training.

Our corporate responsibility initiatives represent one of the cornerstones of our 
corporate culture. These initiatives provide common values for our employees that go 
beyond economic aspects. Worthy of note in this respect are our goteach, goHelp and 
gogreen programmes. Furthermore, our Global Volunteer Day has been extremely well 
received around the world, bringing together our employees for one common goal: to 
help others.

Future organisation

No material changes to the organisation

No material changes to the Group’s organisational structure are planned for finan-

cial year 2013.

Future economic parameters

Global economy stabilises after weak start to the year

At the beginning of 2013, the world economy is in an uncertain position and sub-
ject to a number of risks. The EMU sovereign debt crisis persists. In the United States, 
political bodies have not yet come to a comprehensive agreement on future taxation 
and spending policies and the budget ceiling has not yet been raised. If the negotiations 
are not successful, the US could fall into a recession with serious consequences for the 
global economy. Averting this risk and continuing to keep the EMU sovereign debt crisis 
in check are key factors in enabling global growth. Growth is likely to be driven by the 
emerging economies in particular. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects an 
increase in global economic output of 3.5 % in 2013. Global trade is anticipated to see 
an even stronger upturn (IMF: 3.8 %, OECD: 4.7 %).

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

103

A.76  Global economy: growth forecast

%

World trade volumes

Real gross domestic product

World

industrial countries

emerging markets

Central and eastern europe

CIS countries

emerging markets in asia

Middle east and north africa

latin america and the Caribbean

africa south of the sahara

2012

2.8

2013

3.8

3.2

1.3

5.1

1.8

3.6

6.6

5.2

3.0

4.8

3.5

1.4

5.5

2.4

3.8

7.1

3.4

3.6

5.8

source: international Monetary Fund (IMF) World economic outlook, october 2012. growth rates calculated on the basis of purchasing 
power parity.

In China, the government is making efforts to boost domestic demand. GDP growth 

is therefore expected to pick up slightly (IMF: 8.2 %).

The Japanese economy suffered a serious setback around the end of 2012. Even if the 
economy regains its footing during the course of 2013, conditions remain unfavourable. 
Private consumption and capital expenditure are likely to stagnate and exports to rise 
only marginally. GDP is therefore expected to experience only weak growth (IMF: 1.2 %, 
OECD: 0.7 %, Postbank Research: 0.3 %).

In the United States, the economy is forecast to continue on a restrained growth path. 
Construction spending may again make strong advances. Private consumption is pro-
jected to rise moderately, reflecting the increase in employment figures. Foreign trade is 
not expected to provide any stimulus. Government spending will probably not remain 
a notable drain on the economy. Forecasts predict that GDP growth will decline slightly 
overall compared with the prior year (IMF: 2.0 %, OECD: 2.0 %, Postbank Research: 2.1 %).
For the euro zone, indications are increasing that the economy will stabilise and 
could even recover marginally. Although domestic demand, capital expenditure and 
private consumption are likely to drop further, the decline will be slower than in recent 
periods. Foreign trade is expected to continue propping up the economy. However, GDP 
will see another slight dip in 2013 despite the low initial level (ECB: −0.3 %, Postbank 
Research: −0.1 %).

Early indicators such as the ifo German business climate index do suggest that the 
economy in Germany could stabilise. However, the upturn will remain marginal at the 
outset. Foreign trade is not expected to provide any stimulus. By contrast, construction 
spending should rise slightly. Capital expenditure will nonetheless remain weak, which 
is likely to be reflected negatively in the labour market. Private consumption will thus 
increase only slightly, despite the continuing rise in incomes. GDP will see slight growth 
at best (Sachverständigenrat: 0.8 %, Postbank Research: 0.6 %).

The fact that the global economic environment will be weak initially suggests stable 
oil prices. The Energy Information Administration anticipates a balanced ratio of supply 
to demand on the crude oil market in 2013.

104

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Future economic parameters

  glossary, page 218

  glossary, page 218

In the United States, unemployment is not expected to drop below 6.5 % in the fore-
seeable future. A consistent key interest rate of between 0 % and 0.25 % can therefore be 
expected for 2013. The ECB will in all likelihood keep its key interest rate at a constant 
0.75 % for some time. Capital market interest rates could nonetheless rise, although a 
weak economy and low key interest rates should keep yield spreads tight.

World trade grows, especially through Asia

Due to the economic risks in the industrial countries, the emerging markets in Asia 
are again expected to play a significant role in the growth of global trade in 2013. Whilst 
global trade volumes (transported quantity in tonnes) are likely to grow by approxi-
mately 3 % in 2013, on the Asian routes growth is projected to increase more strongly.

Mail business in the digital age

Demand for mail in Germany depends on the trend in the ways our customers 
communicate and the extent to which digital media continue to replace the physical 
letter. We expect the market for mail communication to shrink, although demand for 
communication in general will continue to rise. By introducing the E-Postbrief, we have 
begun to use our expertise in physical communication to offer competent electronic 
communications and generate new business in the process. We have also prepared our-
selves for continued, intense competition. For the first time in 15 years, we raised the 
prices of our Standardbrief and Maxibrief letter products at the beginning of 2013 in 
accordance with the price-cap procedure. The higher prices reflect the general price trend 
and will allow us to maintain the high quality of our nationwide postal service in Ger-
many and also to continue offering attractive jobs.

According to forecasts by the Zentralverband der deutschen Werbewirtschaft ( German 
advertising federation), the German advertising market will remain stable in 2013. This 
market is cyclical and currently finds itself in transition. We are seeing an overall shift 
in advertising expenditures as companies budget more for digital media and less for 
traditional advertising. The trend towards targeted advertising and combinations with 
internet offers is likely to continue. Moreover, we expect companies to resort increas-
ingly to more economical forms of advertising. We intend to consolidate our position 
in the liberalised market for paper-based advertising and to expand our share in the 
advertising market as a whole by integrating online marketing.

The  press  services  market  is  likely  to  keep  contracting  slightly  because  of  the 
 increasing use of new media. This will affect subscription numbers and average weights, 
thus also impacting our revenue. In the future we plan to increase the number of digital 
products we offer.

The international mail market takes its cue from how business customers com-
municate. This is an area in which we aim to tap into new business related to our core 
competency: mail, parcels and small packages.

The parcel market will continue to grow both in Germany and internationally. Busi-
ness and private customers are increasingly making use of the online marketplace. We 
shall continue to drive this development and to expand our market position with our 
own portals, shipping and delivery services.

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105

International express business will remain stable

Experience shows that growth in the international express market is highly depend-
ent on the general economy. Despite the restrained projections for overall economic 
growth, however, we are optimistic, in light of the trend in volumes, that the express 
market will remain stable in 2013.

By using programmes to increase efficiency and quality as well as cost management 
we shall continue improving our earnings. We are confident that we shall remain on a 
growth path and defend or even further strengthen our leading market position.

Moderate market growth in the freight forwarding business

Air freight load factors stabilised in the reporting year, whilst freight aircraft util-

isation declined. We expect this trend to continue in 2013.

Ocean freight capacities are increasing because new ships are being put into oper-
ation. However, market capacities are likely to be managed in such a way as to keep 
freight rates stable.

As  in  the  reporting  year,  we  expect  European  road  transport  volumes  to  grow 
slightly at best or even stagnate in 2013, which reflects the very cautious economic 
forecasts for the region.

Supply Chain market remains robust

The trend towards outsourcing warehouse and distribution services continues. For 
this reason, projections indicate that the market for contract logistics will continue to 
experience stable growth of more than 6 %. Especially in periods of economic weakness 
with high cost pressure and increasingly complex supply chains, many companies prefer 
to outsource their logistics. Demand for Supply Chain services is expected to see par-
ticularly strong growth in emerging markets such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico, 
where we benefit from our strong market position.

The market for business process outsourcing is also expected to grow further. For 
the Williams Lea business unit, we anticipate strong growth on the basis of our power-
ful offering and the increasing development of our broad DHL customer base. Our 
 Marketing Solutions business is likely to develop particularly well as it benefits from 
the acquisition of Tag in 2011.

Although the economic climate remains uncertain, we are ensuring by means of 
our Growth Through Excellence strategy that we shall continue to take advantage of 
our strengths – extensive reach and mature sector expertise – to profitably grow both 
new and existing business.

revenue and earnings forecast

Expectations regarding how the global economy will perform in 2013 remain cau-
tious and at the lower end of the long-term trend. As in the previous year, the economy 
is likely to grow by approximately 3 %. As opposed to 2012, however, momentum should 
pick up as the year progresses. The global trading volumes relevant to our business are 
expected to perform similarly. We are therefore anticipating a corresponding revenue 
trend, with increasing revenue, particularly in the DHL divisions.

106

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Group Management Report
Outlook
Projected financial position

Against this backdrop, we expect consolidated EBIT to reach between €2.7 billion 
and €2.95 billion in financial year 2013. The MAIL division is likely to contribute between 
€1.1 billion and €1.2 billion to this figure. Compared with the previous year, we expect an 
additional improvement in overall earnings to between €2.0 billion and €2.15 billion in 
the DHL divisions. At around €–0.4 billion, the Corporate Center / Other result should 
be on par with the previous year.

In 2013, we plan to invest a maximum of €1.8 billion. In the coming years, we expect 
this figure to fall back to a normal level. In line with our Group strategy, we are targeting 
organic growth and anticipate only a few small acquisitions in 2013, as in the previous 
year. In 2013, operating cash flow will recover from the one-time charges in the reporting 
year and benefit from the expected earnings improvement.

Even  in  the  face  of  an  uncertain  economic  climate,  particularly  in  the  western 
 economies, we believe that the Group will experience good earnings momentum. We 
 expect a similarly positive business trend in 2014 as another step towards the  earnings 
targets we  defined for 2015. The cost reduction measures and growth programmes 
 initiated in the MAIL division are expected to keep EBIT stable at €1 billion at the least, 
even though letter volumes are likely to continue their slow decline due to electronic 
substitution. In the DHL divisions, we expect EBIT, taking the earnings contribution in 
2010 as the baseline, to improve at an annual average of 13 % to 15 % in the period from 
2011 to 2015 as trading volumes continue to recover.

Our finance strategy calls for paying out 40 % to 60 % of net profits as dividends as 
a general rule. At the Annual General Meeting on 29 May 2013, we intend to propose 
to the shareholders that a dividend per share of €0.70 be paid for financial year 2012 
(previous year: €0.70).

Projected financial position

Creditworthiness of the Group remains adequate

Based  on  the  projected  earnings  trend  for  2013,  we  expect  the  “FFO  to  debt” 
 performance metric to improve and the rating agencies to continue to rank our credit-
worthiness as adequate.

Liquidity remains solid

We anticipate a deterioration in our liquidity in the first half of 2013 as a result of 
the annual prepayment due to Bundes-Pensions-Service für Post und Telekommuni-
kation in January and the dividend payment for financial year 2012 in May. However, 
our operating liquidity situation will improve again significantly towards the end of the 
year due to the upturn in business that is normal in the second half.

In view of the January 2014 maturity date for the bond issued by Deutsche Post 
Finance B. V. in the amount of €0.9 billion, we shall analyse the option of refinancing 
under the Debt Issuance Programme and borrow from the capital market if necessary.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

107

Investments of a maximum of €1.8 billion expected

In 2013 we plan to invest a maximum of €1.8 billion. In the coming years, we expect 
this figure to fall back to a normal level. We shall continue to focus on IT, machinery, 
transport equipment and aircraft.

In the MAIL division, we shall be further expanding our parcel network, digital 
growth areas and our direct customer business. As some investments were postponed, 
capital expenditure will surpass the level of the reporting year.

In the EXPRESS division, we expect capital expenditure to slightly exceed the level 
of the reporting year. We plan to continue renewing our aircraft fleet and to step up 
investments, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.

In the GLOBAL  FORWARDING,  FREIGHT division, we are planning slightly lower 
investments for 2013. We shall continue to invest in IT solutions and in modernising or 
expanding our warehouses, especially in the Asia Pacific region.

In  the  SUPPLY  CHAIN  division,  capital  expenditure  is  expected  to  fall  slightly. 
 Investments will focus on supporting new business and expanding existing business 
in America, the Asia Pacific region and the UK.

Cross-divisional capital expenditure is expected to decrease slightly in 2013. Invest-

ments will again be centred on our vehicle fleet and IT.

this annual report contains forward-looking statements that relate to the business, financial performance and results of oper-
ations of Deutsche Post AG. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as “believes”, 
“ expects”, “predicts”, “intends”, “projects”, “plans”, “estimates”, “aims”, “foresees”, “anticipates”, “targets” and similar expressions. 
as these statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could 
cause actual results to be materially different from the future development, performance or results expressly or implicitly assumed 
in the forward-looking statements. readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which 
apply only as at the date of this presentation. Deutsche Post AG does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward- 
looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this annual report.

 any internet sites referred to in the group Management report do not form part of the report.

108

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

109  

 134

CorPorate 
 goVernanCe

B 乙 Corporate GovernanCeb  

 CorPorate goVernanCe

rePort oF tHe suPerVisorY boarD  

 111

suPerVisorY boarD  

Members of the supervisory board  
Committees of the supervisory board  

boarD oF ManageMent  

ManDates  

Mandates held by the board of Management  
Mandates held by the supervisory board  

CorPorate goVernanCe rePort  

 remuneration report  

 115

 115
 115

 116

 118

 118
 118

 119

 124

  
Corporate Governance
Report of the Supervisory Board

rePort oF tHe suPerVisorY boarD

WULF VON SCHIMMELMANN
Chairman

Dear sHareHolDers,

In the 2012 financial year, Deutsche Post DHL continued to grow in a volatile environment and 
made clear progress towards its three goals of being the provider, investment and employer of choice in 
its market.

Advising and overseeing the Board of Management

In 2012, the Supervisory Board scrutinised Group and divisional strategy and performance at seven 
Supervisory Board meetings and one closed meeting. At the meetings, the Board of Management  provided 
us with detailed information on the situation and direction of the company and the Group, strategic 
 initiatives, all key issues related to planning and implementation, and the opportunities and risks for 
business performance. Special attention was given to the European Commission’s state aid ruling and the 
additional VAT payment. The Supervisory Board has continued to monitor the global economic  situation 
and the performance of acquisitions and business units in the context of the divisional growth strategies. 
All important decisions were discussed in detail with the Board of Management. The Board of Manage-
ment informed us promptly and in a comprehensive manner regarding business performance, key busi-
ness transactions and projects in the divisions, compliance organisation and  compliance management, 
and the company’s risk exposure and risk management. The Board of Management also provided the 
chairman of the Supervisory Board with continuous updates between Supervisory Board  meetings. Meas-
ures requiring the consent of the Supervisory Board were discussed in even greater depth, and in advance 
by the relevant committees. The results of the  deliberations were presented by the respective committee 
chairs to the plenary meetings.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

111

Seven meetings during the reporting year

Four Supervisory Board meetings took place during the first half of the year and three in the second. All 
members participated in at least 50 % of the meetings. The overall participation rate was approximately 95 %.
On 24 January 2012 we met in an extraordinary meeting to address the European Commission’s 
charge that Deutsche Post had received illegal state aid. In a related ruling, the European Commission 
required the German federal government to issue an official demand to Deutsche Post for the repayment 
of state aid. Deutsche Post and the federal government have appealed against the European Commission’s 
decision.

At the financial statements meeting on 7 March 2012, with the auditors in attendance, we discussed 
and approved the annual and consolidated financial statements for 2011. At that meeting we also accepted 
Walter Scheurle’s resignation from the Board of Management. Angela Titzrath had already been appointed 
in December 2011 to succeed Walter Scheurle. In addition, we adopted the Supervisory Board’s proposed 
resolutions for the Annual General Meeting (AGM), assessed whether the Board of Management had 
achieved its targets for the 2011 financial year and discussed ways to provide targeted support to put more 
women in management positions within the Group. We also discussed the outcome of the review on the 
efficiency of the Supervisory Board’s work.

A further extraordinary meeting of the Supervisory Board was convened on 31 May 2012 to address 

the additional VAT payment demanded by German tax authorities for the period from 1998 to 2010.

At the meeting of the Supervisory Board on 28 June 2012, we approved the acquisition of intelliAd 
 Media GmbH. This acquisition strengthens Deutsche Post’s position in the field of online marketing. 
 Matters relating to the Board of Management, including the remuneration of its members, were also 
dealt with.

On 19 September 2012, the company organised a Directors’ Day to provide Supervisory Board mem-
bers with basic and further training. Selected speakers gave presentations on the internal control and risk 
management system and recent changes to accounting standards. In the meeting on 20 September 2012, 
part of which was conducted without the Board of Management members, we discussed the appropriate-
ness of the Board of Management’s remuneration and its various components. Over the following one-
and-a-half days, the Supervisory Board met in closed session for a detailed discussion on  implementing 
Strategy 2015 within the Group and the divisions. In order to provide an outside  perspective to supplement 
its view of the Group, a number of distinguished guest speakers were also invited.

On 3 December 2012 a further extraordinary meeting took place, in which the Supervisory Board 
authorised the issue of convertible bonds to secure the continued funding of pension obligations. The 
decision regarding the final terms was delegated to the Finance and Audit Committee.

Following in-depth discussions in the Supervisory Board’s final meeting of the year on 11 Decem-
ber 2012, we adopted the business plan for 2013 and agreed the Board of Management’s targets for 2013. 
In addition, we considered the Supervisory Board’s remuneration and agreed on a recommendation to 
the AGM. The target composition of the Supervisory Board was amended, such that the proportion of 
independent members of the Supervisory Board, as defined in paragraph 5.4.2 of the German Corporate 
Governance Code, should be at least 75 %. Together with the Board of Management, we again submitted 
an unqualified Declaration of Conformity with the German Corporate Governance Code.

112

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Corporate Governance
Report of the Supervisory Board

Hard work by the committees

The Executive Committee met five times during the year under review. Meeting agendas focused 

primarily on business-related questions and Board of Management matters.

The Personnel Committee met four times, examining both existing and planned measures to promote 
women in management. The committee discussed the global First Choice Way management approach, the 
Group’s data protection guidelines, and the topics “health management”, “global volunteering day” and 
programmes for employees and their children. The annual employee opinion survey was also discussed.
The Finance and Audit Committee met nine times. The chairman, Hero Brahms, is a financial expert 
as defined by sections 100 (5) and 107 (4) of the Aktiengesetz (AktG – German Stock Corporation Act). At 
its meeting in March, the committee examined the annual and consolidated financial statements for 2011 
and recommended that these be approved by a plenary meeting of the Supervisory Board. The  auditors 
attended this meeting. Following the AGM, the Finance and Audit Committee engaged the auditors to 
perform an audit of the 2012 annual and consolidated financial statements and the interim financial 
 report for the first half of the year. The committee also defined the key audit priorities. In advance of their 
publication, the reviewed quarterly financial reports and the interim financial report for the first half of 
the year were discussed by the committee together with the Board of Management and the auditors. The 
main risk factors for the Group were also discussed at the March meeting as planned.

At an extraordinary meeting on 31 May 2012, the Finance and Audit Committee discussed the add-

itional VAT payment demanded for the period from 1998 to 2010.

With regard to the acquisition and disposal of companies, in its meeting of 21 June 2012 the com-
mittee discussed the acquisition of intelliAd Media GmbH. The committee was apprised of other acqui-
sitions and disposals during the course of the year. The results of the internal audit were also discussed 
by the committee.

At its meeting on 14 September 2012, the Finance and Audit Committee received a detailed progress 
report on compliance organisation and compliance management from the Chief Compliance Officer. The 
main risk factors for the Group were also discussed further.

On 3 and 4 December 2012, the Finance and Audit Committee considered the proposed convertible 
bond issue and approved the relevant Board of Management resolution. In addition, on 4 December, the 
committee examined the business plan for the years from 2013 to 2015 and approved the internal audit 
plan for 2013. The committee regularly discussed the Group’s business development and the internal 
 control and risk management system. The appropriateness of the Group’s accounting system was discussed 
by the committee together with the auditors.

The Nomination Committee met on one occasion in 2012 to consider nominations for the 2013 AGM.
The chairs of the committees reported on the committees’ deliberations in the subsequent plenary 

meetings.

In 2012 there were no meetings of the Mediation Committee, formed pursuant to section 27 (3) of 

the Mitbestimmungsgesetz (MitbestG – German Co-determination Act).

Changes to the composition of the Supervisory Board and Board of Management

No changes occurred during 2012 with regard to the shareholder representatives on the Supervisory 
Board of Deutsche Post AG. With respect to employee representatives, Wolfgang Abel stepped down on 
12 September 2012 and Stephan Teuscher was appointed by the court on 29 October 2012. In accordance 
with the Mitbestimmungsgesetz, a Delegate Assembly will be held in April 2013 to elect or re-elect all 
employee representatives. The elected representatives’ five-year term of office will commence when the 
AGM closes on 29 May 2013.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

113

The company’s Board of Management changed as follows: Walter Scheurle stepped down from the 
Board of Management on 30 April 2012. Angela Titzrath took over the position of Board Member for 
Human Resources and Labour Director on 1 May 2012.

Managing conflicts of interest

No conflicts of interest arose during the reporting year.

Company in compliance with all recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code

In December 2012, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board submitted an  unqualified 
Declaration of Conformity pursuant to section 161 of the AktG and published it on the company’s web-
site. The declarations from previous years can also be viewed on this website. In the 2012 financial year, 
Deutsche Post AG complied with all recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code, 
as amended on 26 May 2010, and also intends to comply with the recommendations of the code, as 
amended on 15 May 2012. The Corporate Governance Report (page 119 ff.) contains further information 
on  corporate governance within the company and the remuneration report.

Annual and consolidated financial statements audited

The  auditors  appointed  by  the  AGM,  PricewaterhouseCoopers  Aktiengesellschaft  Wirtschafts-
prüfungsgesellschaft (PwC), Düsseldorf, audited the annual and consolidated financial statements for the 
2012 financial year, including the respective management reports, and issued unqualified audit opinions. 
PwC also conducted the review of the quarterly financial reports and the interim report for the first half 
of the year.

Following a detailed preliminary assessment by the Finance and Audit Committee, the Super visory 
Board reviewed the annual and consolidated financial statements and the management reports for the 
2012 financial year at the financial statements meeting held on 4 March 2013. The review included the 
Board  of  Management’s  proposal  for  the  appropriation  of  the  unappropriated  surplus. The  auditors’ 
 reports were made available to all Supervisory Board members and were discussed in detail with the 
Board of Management and the auditors in attendance. The Supervisory Board concurred with the results 
of the audit and approved the annual and consolidated financial statements for the 2012 financial year. 
Based on the final outcome of the examination of the annual and consolidated financial statements, on 
the management reports and on the proposal for the appropriation of the unappropriated surplus by the 
Supervisory Board and the Finance and Audit Committee, there are no objections to be raised. The Super-
visory Board endorses the Board of Management’s proposal for the appropriation of the unappropriated 
surplus and the payment of a dividend of €0.70 per share.

We would like to thank the Board of Management and all the Group’s employees for their excellent 
work in a volatile environment. The Supervisory Board is confident that the company is well on the way 
to achieving the goals set out in Strategy 2015.

Bonn, 4 March 2013
The Supervisory Board

Wulf von schimmelmann
Chairman

114

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Corporate Governance
Supervisory Board

suPerVisorY boarD

B.01  Members of the Supervisory Board

B.02  Committees of the Supervisory Board

Shareholder representatives

Employee representatives

Executive Committee

Prof. Dr Wulf von Schimmelmann (Chair)
Former CEO of Deutsche Postbank AG

Hero Brahms
Management consultant

Werner Gatzer
state secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance

Prof. Dr Henning Kagermann
Former CEO of SAP AG

Thomas Kunz
CEO of Danone Dairy, member of the 
 executive Committee of Danone S. A., 
France

Roland Oetker
Managing Partner, ROI Verwaltungs-
gesellschaft mbH

Dr Ulrich Schröder
CEO of KfW bankengruppe

Dr Stefan Schulte
Chair of the executive board of Fraport AG

Elmar Toime
Managing Director, E toime Consulting ltd.

Prof. Dr-Ing. Katja Windt
bernd rogge Chair of global Production 
logistics 

Provost and Vice President of  
Jacobs university bremen ggmbH  
(since 1 January 2013)

Andrea Kocsis (Deputy Chair)
Deputy Chair of ver.di national  executive 
board and Head of Postal services, 
 Forwarding Companies and logistics 
on the ver.di national executive board

Rolf Bauermeister
Head of Postal services, Co-determination 
and Youth and Head of national Postal 
services group at ver.di national adminis-
tration

Heinrich Josef Busch
Chair of the group and Company  executive 
representation Committee, Deutsche Post AG

Thomas Koczelnik
Chair of the group Works Council, 
Deutsche Post AG

Anke Kufalt
Member of the Works Council, DHL global 
Forwarding gmbH, Hamburg

Andreas Schädler
Chair of the general Works Council, 
Deutsche Post AG

Sabine Schielmann 
Member of the executive board of the 
 general Works Council, Deutsche Post AG

Stephan Teuscher (since 29 october 2012)
section Head of politics referring to tariffs, 
civil servants and social matters in the 
department Postal services, Forwarding 
Companies and logistics at ver.di national 
administration 

Helga Thiel
Deputy Chair of the general Works  Council, 
Deutsche Post AG

Stefanie Weckesser
Deputy Chair of the Works Council, 
Deutsche Post AG, MAIL branch, augsburg

Left in financial year 2012

Wolfgang Abel (until 12 september 2012)
Head of Postal services, Forwarding 
Companies and logistics, ver.di regional 
District of Hamburg (until 30 June 2012)

District head of ver.di Hamburg 
(since 1 July 2012)

Prof. Dr Wulf von schimmelmann (Chair)

andrea Kocsis (Deputy Chair)

rolf bauermeister

Werner gatzer

roland oetker

stefanie Weckesser

Finance and Audit Committee

Hero brahms (Chair)

Wolfgang abel (Deputy Chair),  
until 12 september 2012

stephan teuscher (Deputy Chair),  
since 11 December 2012

Werner gatzer

thomas Koczelnik

Dr stefan schulte

Helga thiel

Personnel Committee

andrea Kocsis (Chair)

Prof. Dr Wulf von schimmelmann  
(Deputy Chair)

thomas Koczelnik

roland oetker

Mediation Committee  
(pursuant to section 27 (3) of the German 
Co-determination Act)

Prof. Dr Wulf von schimmelmann (Chair)

andrea Kocsis (Deputy Chair)

rolf bauermeister

roland oetker

Nomination Committee

Prof. Dr Wulf von schimmelmann (Chair)

Werner gatzer 

roland oetker

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

115

 
boarD oF ManageMent

KEN ALLEN 
ExPRESS

born in 1955 
Member since February 2009 
appointed until February 2017

BRUCE EDWARDS 
SUPPLy CHAIN

born in 1955 
Member since March 2008 
appointed until March 2016

ROGER CROOK 
GLOBAL FORWARDING,  
FREIGHT

born in 1957 
Member since March 2011  
appointed until March 2014

JüRGEN GERDES 
MAIL

born in 1964 
Member since July 2007 
appointed until June 2015

116

Corporate Governance
Board of Management

Former member of the  
Board of Management
WALTER SCHEURLE
PERSONNEL

born in 1952 
Member from april 2000  
until april 2012

DR FRANK APPEL 
CHIEF ExECUTIVE OFFICER

born in 1961 
Member since november 2002,  
CEO since February 2008 
appointed until october 2017

ANGELA TITzRATH 
HUMAN RESOURCES

born in 1966 
Member since May 2012 
appointed until april 2015

LAWRENCE ROSEN 
FINANCE,  
GLOBAL BUSINESS SERVICES

born in 1957 
Member since september 2009 
appointed until august 2017

117

ManDates

B.03  Mandates held by the Board of Management

Membership of supervisory boards 
required by law

Membership of  
comparable bodies

Lawrence Rosen
Deutsche Postbank AG

1  group mandate.

Ken Allen
DHL-sinotrans international air Courier ltd 1 
(board of Directors)

Roger Crook
DHL global Forwarding Management  
(asia Pacific) Pte ltd 1 (board of Directors)

Bruce Edwards
ashtead plc (board of Directors)

greif, inc. (board of Directors)

Williams lea group limited 1  
(board of Directors) 

Williams lea Holdings PLC 1  
(board of Directors, Chair) 

B.04  Mandates held by the Supervisory Board

Shareholder representatives 

Employee representatives 

Membership of supervisory boards 
required by law

Membership of  
comparable bodies

Membership of supervisory boards 
required by law

Prof. Dr Wulf von Schimmelmann (Chair)
accenture Corp., ireland (board of Directors)

Rolf Bauermeister
Deutsche Postbank AG

Andreas Schädler
PSD bank Köln eg (Chair)

Stephan Teuscher (since 29 october 2012)
DHL Hub leipzig gmbH (supervisory board, 
Deputy Chair since 25 January 2013)

Helga Thiel
PSD bank Köln eg (Deputy Chair)

thomson reuters Corp., Canada 
(board of Directors)

Western union Company, USA  
(board of Directors)

Hero Brahms
Zumtobel AG, austria  
(supervisory board, Deputy Chair)

Prof. Dr Henning Kagermann
nokia Corporation, Finland 
(board of  Directors)

Wipro ltd., india (board of Directors)

Roland Oetker
rheinisch-bergische Verlagsgesellschaft 
mbH (supervisory board)

Dr Ulrich Schröder
“Marguerite 2020”: european Fund for 
energy, Climate Change and infrastructure 
(supervisory board) 

Elmar Toime
blackbay ltd., united Kingdom 
( non-executive Director)

Postea inc., USA (non-executive Chairman)

Prof. Dr Wulf von Schimmelmann (Chair)
allianz Deutschland AG  
(since 23 March 2012)

Maxingvest AG

Hero Brahms
georgsmarienhütte Holding gmbH 
(Deputy Chair)

Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann gmbH & Co.KG

live Holding AG (Chair)

telefunken SE 

Wincor nixdorf AG (until 23 January 2012)

Werner Gatzer
bundesdruckerei gmbH 

Flughafen berlin-schönefeld gmbH 

g.e.b.b. mbH (until 25 May 2012)

Prof. Dr Henning Kagermann
BMW AG

Deutsche bank AG

Franz Haniel & Cie. gmbH  
(since 27 november 2012)

Münchener rückversicherungs- 
gesellschaft AG

Roland Oetker
evotec AG 

Dr Ulrich Schröder
DEG – Deutsche investitions- und 
entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH 

Deutsche telekom AG

Elmar Toime
message AG (Chair)

Prof. Dr-Ing. Katja Windt
Fraport AG (since 11 May 2012)

118

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
  
 
 
  
 
  
CorPorate goVernanCe rePort

Annual Corporate Governance Statement pursuant to section 289 a of the HGB

In this annual Corporate governance statement, the company presents the main com-
ponents of Deutsche Post DHL’s corporate governance structure. These include the 
Declaration of Conformity from the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board, 
information  regarding  significant  corporate  governance  practices  that  exceed  legal 
 requirements, information concerning the working methods of the Board of Manage-
ment and the Supervisory Board, and details regarding the composition and working 
methods of the executive committees and other committees, as well as the targets for 
the composition of the Supervisory Board.

Company in compliance with all recommendations of the German Corporate 
 Governance Code

In December 2012, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board again 
submitted an unqualified Declaration of Conformity pursuant to section 161 of the 
 Aktiengesetz (AktG – German Stock Corporation Act), which reads as follows:

“The  Board  of  Management  and  the  Supervisory  Board  of  Deutsche  Post  AG 
 declare  that  the  recommendations  made  by  the  Government  Commission  on  the 
German  Corporate Governance Code, as amended on 26 May 2010, have been com-
plied with, also since the last Declaration of Conformity in December 2011, and that 
Deutsche Post AG intends to comply with all recommendations of the Code, as amended 
on 15 May 2012 in the future.”

We also implemented the suggestions set forth in the code, with one exception: the 
Annual General Meeting will only be broadcast on the internet until the start of the 
general debate.

Specific corporate governance practices

With the guiding principle of “respect and results”, we set our corporate govern-
ance the daily challenge of achieving first-class results whilst adhering to our sense of 
responsibility for the needs of our employees and customers. As a globally operating 
company and corporate citizen, we bear great responsibility for the environment and 
for living conditions in the regions in which we operate. This is a responsibility that we 
take seriously.

In 2012 we carried out another employee  opinion  survey throughout the Group, in 
which 80 % of our employees again took part. We are proud that our employees are sat-
isfied with their working conditions and that the results of the survey continue to show 
improvements in all key indicators for the fourth consecutive year.

In addition, independent consumer studies have again proven how satisfied customers 
are with our services. In Germany, the survey of private customers carried out by the 
Kundenmonitor Deutschland independent market study showed 96 % (previous year: 
95 %) of those surveyed to be satisfied with Deutsche Post’s mail service and that 92 % 
(previous year: 90 %) were satisfied with our retail outlet service.

Corporate responsibility is a key component of our corporate strategy. In these 
 efforts we concentrate above all on environmental protection and a commitment to 
social responsibility. Our commitment was again recognised by leading  sustainability 
indices in the reporting year.

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report

  dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html

  employees, page 73

  Customers and quality, page 80 ff.

  Corporate responsibility, page 76 f.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

119

  Page 75

  Diversity, page 74

Code of Conduct, diversity and compliance management

Deutsche Post DHL has developed a Code of Conduct that has been applicable 
in all regions and in all divisions since the middle of 2006. The Code of Conduct lays 
down guidelines for day-to-day workplace conduct for some 475,000 employees. Our 
principles are respect, tolerance, honesty, openness, integrity towards employees and 
customers, and the willingness as a company to assume social responsibility. The Code 
of Conduct also sets out our commitment to the health and well-being of our employees 
as well as equal opportunities and diversity.

We consider the health and safety of our employees to be prerequisites for perform-
ance and motivation and a key factor in the company’s continued success. Targeted 
initiatives and activities are implemented to improve our employees’ health. Each year 
we recognise exemplary health initiatives with our Corporate Health Award.

As part of our work to promote equality, we have committed ourselves to filling 25 % 
to 30 % of all management positions becoming vacant with women. The proportion of 
women in upper and middle managerial positions around the world has risen slightly 
to 18.5 % (previous year: 17.6 %), a positive trend we intend to accelerate. The Super-
visory Board supports the Group’s diversity strategy, with a particular focus on the 
objective of increasing the number of women on the Board of Management. It sees the 
efforts for greater diversity as being part of long-term succession planning, for which 
the Super visory Board and Board of Management are jointly responsible. In the opinion 
of the Super visory Board, the targeted increase in the number of women in executive 
positions is necessary to ensure that, overall, more suitable female candidates are avail-
able for vacant positions on the Board of Management. This will allow the Supervisory 
Board to give more consideration to women when appointing members to the Board 
of Manage ment. The international composition of the Board of Management already 
strongly reflects the global activity of the company.

The  Code  of  Conduct  is  underpinned  by  two  guidelines.  The  anti-corruption 
 policy gives clear instructions on how to handle gifts, benefits and offers of  hospitality. 
 Improper payments (bribery) are prohibited. The competition compliance policy gives 
specific guidelines on the prohibition of agreements with competitors. The code of 
  conduct for suppliers is included in all new procurement contracts and has been added 
to existing long-term framework agreements. It obliges suppliers to adhere to ethical and 
ecological standards. A ban on child and forced labour is in place. Salaries and working 
times must comply with national laws and regulations.

At Deutsche Post DHL, the Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for the com-
pliance management system and reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer. The Chief 
Compliance Officer is supported by the Global Compliance Office, which  establishes 
compliance management standards on a Group-wide basis and supports the correspond-
ing activities of the divisions. Each of the four operating divisions has a Compliance 
Officer, who regularly presents a report to the divisional Board of Manage ment member. 
These reports are incorporated into the Chief Compliance Officer’s reports to the Board 
of Management and to the Finance and Audit Committee of the Supervisory Board.

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One  of  the  main  functions  of  compliance  management  at  Deutsche  Post  DHL 
is to implement a systematic process which allows for the identification of potential 
compliance risks, the evaluation of compliance matters relating to business partners, 
co-ordinated reporting of any breaches of law or guidelines, the central management of 
guidelines and the development and implementation of training and communication 
on compliance. In particular, 2012 saw the further development of guidelines govern-
ing the review process for business partners. These now form a compulsory part of our 
anti-corruption policy. In addition, steps were taken to improve Group-wide commu-
nication on compliance matters in order to remind employees of their relevance and 
brief them specifically on the code of conduct. This communication was supported by 
training courses.

Working methods of the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board

As a German listed public limited company, Deutsche Post follows a dual manage-
ment system. The board of Management is responsible for the management of the company. 
It is appointed, overseen and advised by the Supervisory Board.

In addition to the board departments of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CFO 
and the Board Member for Human Resources, the Board of Management also includes 
the operating board departments of MAIL, GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT, EXPRESS 
and SUPPLY CHAIN.

With  the  consent  of  the  Supervisory  Board,  the  Board  of  Management  has 
 established rules of procedure that lay down objectives for structure, management and 
co- operation within the Board of Management. Within this framework, each board 
 member manages their department independently and informs the rest of the Board on 
key developments at regular intervals. The Board of Management as a whole decides on 
matters of particular significance for the company or the Group. In addition to tasks that 
it is prohibited by law from delegating, these include all decisions that must be presented 
to the Supervisory Board for approval. The entire Board of Management also decides 
on matters brought forth by one member of the Board of Management for decision by 
the Board of Management as a whole.

In making their decisions, the members of the Board of Management may not 
pursue personal interests or exploit business opportunities due to the company for their 
own benefit. They are required to disclose any conflicts of interest to the Supervisory 
Board without delay.

The supervisory board advises and oversees the Board of Management and appoints 
the members of the Board of Management. It has established rules of procedure that 
include the fundamental principles of its internal structure, a catalogue of Board of 
Manage ment  transactions  requiring  its  approval  and  rules  for  the  supervisory  board 
 committees. It meets at least twice every six months in a calendar year, with special 
meetings held whenever particular developments or measures need to be discussed or 
decided quickly. In financial year 2012, the Supervisory Board met for seven plenary 
meetings, 19 committee meetings and one closed meeting, as described in the report of 
the supervisory board.

The  Board  of  Management  and  the  Supervisory  Board  are  in  regular  contact 
 regarding strategic measures, planning, business development, risk exposure and risk 
management as well as company compliance. The Board of Management informs the 
Supervisory Board promptly and comprehensively on all topics of significance.

  Members, page 116 f.  
Mandates, page 118

  Members, page 115  
Mandates, page 118

  Page 115

  Page 111 ff.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

121

All Supervisory Board decisions, particularly those concerning transactions that 
require its approval, are deliberated and discussed extensively in the relevant committees. 
At each plenary meeting, the Supervisory Board is informed in detail about the work 
and decisions of its committees.

In making their decisions, the members of the Supervisory Board may not  pursue 
personal interests or exploit business opportunities due to the company for their own 
benefit. They are required to disclose any conflicts of interest to the Supervisory Board. 
Any significant conflicts of interest on the part of a Supervisory Board member that 
are not merely temporary in nature should lead to that member’s resignation from 
the  Board.  In  the  Supervisory  Board’s  estimation,  the  Supervisory  Board  contains 
an adequate number of independent members as defined by the German Corporate 
 Governance Code.

Executive committees and Supervisory Board committees

Executive committees prepare the decisions to be made by the Board of Management 
as a whole and make decisions on matters assigned to them. Their duties  include prepar-
ing or deciding on investments and transactions in the various divisions. The Deutsche 
Post Executive Committee is responsible for the MAIL division and the cross-divisional 
DHL Executive Committee is in charge of the EXPRESS, GLOBAL  FORWARDING, FREIGHT 
and SUPPLY CHAIN divisions. The CEO, the CFO, the Board Member for Human Resources 
and the respective board members of the divisions are represented on the committees. 
Along with the relevant members of the Board of Management, the executive committees 
also include first-tier executives below the Board of Management level, in some cases on a 
permanent basis (those, for example, responsible for the operating business) and in some 
cases to assist with special topics. Procurement and Controlling are called in to consult 
on capital expenditure, for instance, and Corporate Finance, Corporate  Development 
and Legal Services in the case of acquisitions. The DHL Executive  Committee and the 
Deutsche Post Executive Committee each meet at least once a month.

Furthermore, business review meetings take place once per quarter. These meetings 
are part of the strategic performance dialogue between the divisions, the CEO and the 
CFO. They comprise discussions on strategic measures, operating topics and the budget 
situation of the divisions.

  Pages 116 f. and 118

For  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Management,  see  board  of  Management  and 

 Mandates held by the board of Management.

The Supervisory Board has formed five committees to ensure the efficient discharge 
of its duties; in particular, these committees prepare the resolutions of the plenary meet-
ings of the Supervisory Board. Decisions on certain topics are delegated by the Super-
visory Board to the individual committees for a final decision.

The Executive Committee’s duties include arranging the appointment of members of 
the Board of Management and the establishment of management board remuneration 
by the plenary meeting of the Supervisory Board. The current members of the Executive 
Committee are Wulf von Schimmelmann (Chair), Andrea Kocsis (Deputy Chair), Rolf 
Bauermeister, Werner Gatzer, Roland Oetker and Stefanie Weckesser.

The Finance and Audit Committee oversees the accounting process, the effective-
ness of the internal control system, the risk management and internal auditing systems 
as well as the financial statement audit. It examines questions of compliance and dis-
cusses the half-yearly and quarterly financial reports with the Board of Management 
before they are published. Based on its own preliminary assessment, it makes proposals 
for the approval of the annual and consolidated financial statements by the Supervisory 

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  Page 111 ff.

  Pages 115 and 118

Board. The current members of the Finance and Audit Committee are Hero Brahms 
(Chair), Stephan Teuscher (Deputy Chair, appointed 11 December 2012), Werner Gatzer, 
Thomas Koczelnik, Stefan Schulte and Helga Thiel. The chairman of the Finance and 
Audit Committee, Hero Brahms, is a financial expert as defined by sections 100 (5) and 
107 (4) of the AktG. Since 1982 he has been CFO at various companies, most recently at 
Linde AG, where he was responsible for balance sheets, taxation, business management, 
audits, corporate governance and finance.

The  Personnel  Committee  discusses  human  resources  principles  for  the  Group. 
The  Personnel  Committee’s  current  members  are  Andrea  Kocsis  (Chair),  Wulf  von 
Schimmel mann (Deputy Chair), Thomas Koczelnik and Roland Oetker.

The Mediation Committee carries out the duties assigned to it pursuant to the 
 Mitbestimmungsgesetz (MitbestG – German Co-determination Act). The current mem-
bers of the Mediation Committee are Wulf von Schimmelmann (Chair), Andrea Kocsis 
(Deputy Chair), Rolf Bauermeister and Roland Oetker.

The  Nomination  Committee  presents  to  the  shareholder  representatives  of  the 
Super visory Board recommendations on the choice of members of the Supervisory 
Board by the AGM. In doing so, it takes into consideration the objectives adopted by the 
Supervisory Board concerning its composition. The current members of the  Nomination 
Committee are Wulf von Schimmelmann (Chair), Werner Gatzer and Roland Oetker.
Information  about  the  work  of  the  Supervisory  Board  and  its  committees  in 
finan cial year 2012 is also contained in the report of the supervisory board. You can find 
 information about the members of the Supervisory Board and the composition of the 
Supervisory Board committees under the sections supervisory board and Mandates held 
by the supervisory board.

Targets for the composition of the Supervisory Board

In  December 2012,  the  Supervisory  Board  resolved  to  comply  with  the  supple-
mentary recommendation of the Government Commission on the German Corporate 
Governance Code with respect to the objectives for the composition of the Supervisory 
Board. This means that it will now also consider the number of independent members 
of the Supervisory Board when setting those objectives:

1   Nominations put forward by the Supervisory Board for the election of Supervisory 
Board members by the AGM should focus solely on the good of the company. In 
this context, the Supervisory Board is working towards a position where, by 2015, at 
least 75 % of the members of the full Supervisory Board are independent, as defined 
in section 5.4.2 of the German Corporate Governance Code, and at least 30 % are 
women.

2   The present composition of the Supervisory Board already adequately reflects the 
company’s international operations. The Supervisory Board aims to maintain this 
and to continue to consider candidates in future nominations for election by the 
AGM who, by virtue of their background, education or profession, possess special 
international knowledge and experience.

3   Conflicts of interest amongst members of the Supervisory Board stand in the way 
of the independent and effective guidance and supervision of the Board of Manage-
ment. The Supervisory Board decides in each individual case, within the scope of 
the law and in accordance with the German Corporate Governance Code, how to 
deal with potential or arising conflicts of interest.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

123

4   In accordance with the age limit set by the Supervisory Board and anchored in its 
rules of procedure, nominations for the election of Supervisory Board members 
will take into account the fact that a term of office is intended to end, at the latest, 
at the close of the duly convened AGM following the member’s 72 nd birthday.

The composition of the Supervisory Board remained largely unchanged during the 
reporting period and is in accordance with the above-mentioned targets. In particular, 
the current composition of the Supervisory Board in fact also exceeds the  specific objec-
tive relating to the number of independent members. In respect of the other  objectives, 
the Supervisory Board was able to maintain the satisfactory level which had already 
been achieved. There are six female members of the Supervisory Board, meaning that 
women currently make up 30 % of its members. The company’s international operations 
are  adequately taken into account. Numerous members possess special international 
 knowledge and experience.

 remuneration report

The remuneration report also forms part of the Group Management Report.

Remuneration structure of the Group Board of Management in financial year 2012

The total remuneration paid to individual Board of Management members for finan-
cial year 2012 was determined by the Supervisory Board, which held consultations to 
resolve on the remuneration system for the Board of Management, including the main 
contractual elements. In so doing it obtained advice from an independent remuneration 
consultant.

The Board of Management remuneration reflects the size and global reach of the 
company, its economic and financial situation and the roles and achievements of the 
individual members. It is set to ensure competitiveness with comparable German and 
inter national companies, thus incentivising the Board of Management members to 
 deliver maximum performance and achieve results.

The remuneration paid to the Board of Management for 2012 is in line with standard 
market practice, appropriate to the tasks involved and designed to reward performance; 
it  comprises  fixed  (non-performance-related)  elements  and  variable  (performance- 
related) elements, which include short, medium and long-term incentives.

Non-performance-related components are the annual base salary (fixed annual 
 remuneration), fringe benefits and pension commitments. The annual base salary is 
paid in twelve equal monthly instalments retroactively at the end of each month. Fringe 
benefits mainly comprise the use of company cars, supplements for insurance premiums 
and special allowances and benefits for assignments outside the home country.

The variable remuneration paid to the Board of Management is almost entirely 
medium and long-term based. Half of the variable remuneration consists of a long-
term incentive plan with a four-year calculation period; the other half is made up of 
an annual bonus linked to the company’s yearly profits, with 50 % of the annual bonus 
flowing into a medium-term component with a three-year calculation period (defer-
ral). Thus, only 25 % of the variable remuneration component is paid out on the basis 
of a one-year calculation.

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Remuneration report

The medium-term component described is applicable to all employment contracts 
and contract renewals entered into after the effective date of the Gesetz zur Angemessen-
heit der Vorstandsvergütung (VorstAG – German Act on the Appropriateness of Manage-
ment Board Remuneration) (5 August 2009). For all contracts concluded prior to that 
date,  25 %  of  the  annual  bonus  flowed  into  the  medium-term  component  until  the 
 cessation of the term of the contract. Since 1 November 2012, a deferral portion of 50 % 
applies for all Board of Management members.

The amount of the annual bonus is set at the due discretion of the Supervisory Board 
on the basis of the company’s performance. The individual annual bonus amounts reflect 
the extent to which predefined targets are achieved, missed or exceeded. The maximum 
amount of the annual bonus may not exceed 100 % of the annual base salary.

For all Board of Management members, the Group’s EBIT after asset charge perform-
ance metric, including the asset charge on goodwill before goodwill impairment (EAC), 
is the main parameter used in this calculation. For the Board of Management members 
in charge of the MAIL, GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT, EXPRESS and SUPPLY CHAIN 
divisions, the EAC of their respective division is also a key parameter. Furthermore, an 
employee-related target is agreed with all Board of Management members based on the 
annual employee opinion survey, as are additional targets.

Achievement of the upper targets for the financial year that have been agreed based 
on demanding objectives is rewarded with the maximum annual bonus. If the targets 
specified for the financial year are only partially reached or completely missed, the 
 annual bonus will be paid on a pro-rata basis or not at all. The Supervisory Board may 
also elect to award an appropriate special bonus for extraordinary achievement.

The annual bonus is not paid in full in a single instalment on the basis of having 
reached the agreed targets. Instead, 50 % of the annual bonus flows into a medium- 
term component with a three-year calculation period (performance phase of one year, 
 sustainability phase of two years). This medium-term component will be paid out after 
expiry of the sustainability phase subject to the condition that EAC, as an indicator of 
sustainability, is reached during the sustainability phase. Otherwise, payment of the 
medium-term component is forfeited without compensation. This demerit system puts 
greater emphasis on sustainable company development in determining management 
board remuneration and sets long-term incentives.

Stock appreciation rights (SAR s) are granted as a long-term remuneration com-
ponent based on the Long-Term Incentive Plan resolved by the Supervisory Board in 
2006 (2006 LTIP). 

Each SAR entitles the holder to receive a cash settlement equal to the difference 
between the average closing price of Deutsche Post shares for the five trading days 
preceding the exercise date and the exercise price of the SAR. In 2012, the members of 
the Board of Management each invested 10 % of their annual base salary as a personal 
financial investment. The waiting period for the stock appreciation rights is four years 
from the date on which they were granted. After expiration of the waiting period, and 
provided an absolute or relative performance target has been achieved, the SAR s can be 
exercised wholly or partially for a period of two years. Any SAR s not exercised during 
this two-year period will expire.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

125

To determine how many, if any, of the SAR s granted can be exercised, the average 
share price or the average index value for the reference period is compared with that 
of the performance period. The reference period comprises the last twenty consecutive 
trading days prior to the issue date. The performance period is the last sixty trading 
days before the end of the waiting period. The average share price (closing price) is 
calculated as the average closing price of Deutsche Post shares in Deutsche Börse AG’s 
Xetra electronic trading system.

A maximum of four out of every six SAR s can be “earned” via the absolute perform-
ance target and a maximum of two via the relative performance target. If neither an 
 absolute nor a relative performance target is met by the end of the waiting period, the 
SAR s attributable to the related tranche will expire without replacement or compensation.
One SAR is earned each time the closing price of Deutsche Post shares exceeds the 
issue price by at least 10 %, 15 %, 20 % or 25 %. The relative performance target is tied 
to the performance of the shares in relation to the STOXX Europe 600 Index (SXXP, 
ISIN EU0009658202). It is met if the share price equals the index performance or if it 
 outperforms the index by at least 10 %.

Remuneration from stock appreciation rights is limited to 300 % of the annual target 
cash compensation (annual base salary plus the annual target bonus). Moreover, it may 
be limited by the Supervisory Board in the event of extraordinary circumstances.

Provisions to cap severance payments pursuant to the Corporate Governance 
Code recommendation, change-of-control provisions and post-contractual 
 non-compete clauses

In accordance with the recommendation of section 4.2.3 of the German  Corporate 
Governance Code, as amended on 15 May 2012, Board of Management contracts con-
tain a provision stipulating that in the event of the premature termination of a Board of 
Management member’s contract, the severance payment may compensate no more than 
the remaining term of the contract. The severance payment is limited to a maximum 
amount of two years’ remuneration including fringe benefits (severance payment cap). 
All contracts contain a clause stipulating that neither special remuneration paid, nor the 
value of rights allocated from long-term incentive plans, may be taken into account in 
the calculation of the severance payment cap.

In the event of a change in control, any member of the Board of Management is 
entitled to resign their office for good cause within a period of six months following the 
change in control, after giving three months’ notice by the end of a given month, and to 
terminate their Board of Management contract (right to early termination).

The contractual provisions stipulate that a change of control exists if a shareholder 
has acquired control within the meaning of section 29 (2) of the Wertpapiererwerbs- 
und Übernahmegesetz (WpÜG – German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act) via 
possession of at least 30 % of the voting rights, including the voting rights attributable 
to such shareholder by virtue of acting in concert with other shareholders as set forth 
in section 30 of the WpÜG or if a control agreement has been concluded with the com-
pany as a dependent entity in accordance with section 291 of the Aktiengesetz (AktG – 
 German Stock Corporation Act) and such agreement has taken effect or if the company 
has merged with another legal entity outside of the Group pursuant to section 2 of the 
Umwandlungsgesetz (UmwG – German Reorganisation and Transformation Act), unless 
the value of such other legal entity, as determined by the agreed conversion rate, is less 
than 50 % of the value of the company.

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Remuneration report

In the event that the right to early termination is exercised or a Board of Manage-
ment contract is terminated by mutual consent within nine months of the change of 
control, the Board of Management member is entitled to payment to compensate the 
remaining term of their Board of Management contract. Such payment is limited to 
150 % of the severance payment cap pursuant to the recommendation of the German 
Corporate Governance Code. The amount of the payment is reduced by 25 % if the Board 
of Management member has not reached the age of 60 upon leaving the company. If the 
remaining term of the Board of Management contract is less than two years and the 
Board of Management member has not reached the age of 62 upon leaving the company, 
the payment will correspond to the severance payment cap. The same applies if a Board 
of Management contract expires prior to the Board of Management member’s reaching 
the age of 62 because less than nine months remained on the term of the contract at the 
time of the change of control and the contract was not renewed.

Board of Management members are also subject to a non-compete clause, taking 
 effect on the cessation of their contracts. During the one-year non-compete  period, 
 former Board of Management members receive 100 % of their last contractually  stipulated 
annual base salary on a pro-rata basis as compensation each month. Any other income 
earned during the non-compete period is subtracted from the compensation paid. The 
amount of the compensation payment itself is deducted from any severance payments or 
pension payments. Prior to, or concurrent with, cessation of the Board of Management 
contract, the company may declare its waiver of adherence to the non-compete clause. 
In such a case, the company will be released from the obligation to pay compensation 
due to a restraint on competition six months after receipt of such declaration. 

Apart from the aforementioned arrangements, no member of the Board of Manage-

ment has been promised any further benefits after leaving the company.

Other provisions

Walter  Scheurle  entered  retirement  as  at  the  end  of  30 September 2012.  From 
30 April 2012, when he resigned from the Board, until the beginning of his retirement, 
he was active in a consultative capacity for the company. In fulfilment of the rights under 
his contract, he received remuneration totalling €771,162 during this period.

Angela Titzrath took office as a member of the company’s Board of Management on 
1 May 2012. By way of compensation for rights that lapsed as a result of her transfer to 
Deutsche Post AG, the company paid her the sum of €538,835.

Amount of remuneration paid to active members of the Group Board of Management 
in financial year 2012

The remuneration paid to active members of the Board of Management in financial 
year 2012 totalled €13.30 million (previous year: €12.05 million). This amount com-
prised €7.64 million in non-performance-related components (previous year: €7.41 mil-
lion) and €5.66 million in the performance-related component paid out (previous year: 
€4.64 million). An additional €2.85 million of the performance-related component was 
transferred to the medium-term component and will be paid out in 2015 subject to the 
condition that the required EAC, as an indicator of sustainability, is reached.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

127

The members of the Board of Management were granted a total of 2,108,466 SAR s 
in financial year 2012 for a total value of €7.04 million (previous year: €6.96 million) at 
the time of issue (1 July 2012). The following tables present the total remuneration paid 
to active Board of Management members (individual breakdown):

B.05  Remuneration paid to the Group Board of Management in 2012: cash components

€

non-performance related

Performance 
related

Fringe 
benefits

34,763

99,150

195,571

107,348

21,008

19,305

annual  
bonus

1,244,325

490,050

407,756

443,610

448,725

579,150

Payment from 
medium-term 
component 
(2010)

415,493

175,032

total 

3,535,992

1,682,565

0

1,427,077

214,549

340,000

215,000

1,695,507

1,739,733

1,696,788

share of 
annual bonus 
transferred to 
medium-term 
component 
(2012) 2 

519,194

419,100

407,756

443,610

448,725

295,350

918,333

823,750

930,000

930,000

883,333

310,000

6,707

230,175

223,380

770,262

76,725

476,667

42,227 3

235,950

0

754,844

235,950

board members

annual  

base salary

Dr Frank appel, Chairman

1,841,411

Ken allen

roger Crook 

bruce edwards

Jürgen gerdes

lawrence rosen 1

Walter scheurle  
(until 30 april 2012)

angela titzrath  
(since 1 May 2012)

1  in financial year 2012, an additional €209,000 was paid out as part of the compensation for rights that lapsed as a result of his transfer 

to Deutsche Post AG. the compensation payment is described in the 2009 annual report.

2  this amount will be paid out in 2015 provided the sustainability indicator is fulfilled.
3  by way of compensation for rights that lapsed as a result of her transfer to Deutsche Post AG, the company paid her the sum of €538,835. 

the compensation payment is described above.

B.06  Remuneration paid to the Group Board of Management in 2012: share-based component  
with long-term incentive effect

€

active board members

Dr Frank appel, Chairman

Ken allen

roger Crook 

bruce edwards

Jürgen gerdes

lawrence rosen

angela titzrath (since 1 May 2012)

number  
of SAR s

544,068

278,448

257,490

278,448

278,448

257,490

214,074

Value of SAR s 
on grant date 
(1 July 2012)

1,817,187

930,016

860,017

930,016

930,016

860,017

715,007

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Corporate Governance Report
Remuneration report

Remuneration paid to the Group Board of Management in the previous year (2011)

B.07  Remuneration paid to the Group Board of Management in 2011: cash components

€

non-performance related

Performance 
related

board members

Dr Frank appel, Chairman

Ken allen

roger Crook (since 9 March 2011)

bruce edwards

Jürgen gerdes

lawrence rosen 1

Walter scheurle

Hermann ude (until 8 March 2011)

annual base 
salary

1,745,017

835,833

579,797

919,902

930,000

860,000

930,000

163,188

Fringe 
benefits

33,990

119,222

142,092

91,758

22,906

19,270

19,892

3,242

annual  
bonus

total 

1,308,804

3,087,811

626,123

290,228

1,581,178

1,012,117

496,451

1,508,111

465,000

645,000

697,500

108,861

1,417,906

1,524,270

1,647,392

275,291

share of 
annual bonus 
transferred to 
medium-term 
component 2

436,268

208,708

290,228

421,317

465,000

215,000

232,500

53,485

1  in financial year 2011, an additional €473,000 was paid out as part of the compensation for rights that lapsed as a result of his transfer 

to Deutsche Post AG. the compensation payment is described in the 2009 annual report.

2  this amount will be paid out in 2014 provided the sustainability indicator is fulfilled.

B.08  Remuneration paid to the Group Board of Management in 2011: share-based component  
with long-term incentive effect

€

active board members

Dr Frank appel, Chairman

Ken allen

roger Crook (since 9 March 2011)

bruce edwards

Jürgen gerdes

lawrence rosen

Walter scheurle

number  
of SAR s

689,502

342,630

284,862

370,518

370,518

342,630

370,518

Value of SAR s 
on grant date 
(1 July 2011)

1,730,650

860,001

715,003

930,000

930,000

860,001

930,000

Pension commitments under the previous system

Dr Frank Appel and Jürgen Gerdes have direct, final-salary based pension com-
mitments on the basis of their individual contracts, providing for benefits in case of 
permanent disability, death or retirement. If the contract of a member ends after at least 
five years of service on the Board of Management, the entitlements they have acquired 
will vest in full. Members become entitled to benefits due to permanent disability after 
at least five years of service. Eligibility for retirement benefits begins at the earliest at 
the age of 55, or at the age of 62 in the case of Jürgen Gerdes. The members of the Board 
of Management may choose between annuity payments and a lump sum payment. The 
benefit amount depends on the pensionable income and the pension level derived from 
the years of service.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

129

Pensionable income consists of the fixed annual remuneration (annual base  salary) 
computed on the basis of the average salary over the last twelve calendar months of 
employ ment. Members of the Board of Management attain a pension level of 25 % after 
five years of service. The maximum pension level of 50 % is attained after ten years of 
 service. The pension level increases gradually based on the period of service on the 
Board  of  Management.  Subsequent  pension  benefits  increase  or  decrease  to  reflect 
changes in the consumer price index in Germany.

B.09  Pension commitments under the previous system in financial year 2012: individual breakdown

Pension 
level on 
31 Dec. 2012  

%

50

25

60

Pension commitments

Maximum 
pension level  
% 

service cost for pension 
 obligation, financial year 2012  
€

Present value 
(DBO) as at 
31 Dec. 2012 
€

50

50

60

614,968

10,447,301

213,097

686,493

4,598,461

0

1,514,558

15,045,762

Dr Frank appel, Chairman

Jürgen gerdes 1

Walter scheurle (until 30 april 2012)

Total

1  should benefits fall due whilst the board member concerned is actively employed, their amount will be calculated in accordance 

with the Pension regulations of Deutsche Post AG (VersoPost) at a minimum (based on a salary of €525,000).

B.10  Pension commitments under the previous system in the previous year (2011): individual breakdown

Pension commitments

Pension 
level on 
31 Dec. 2011  

%

25

0

60

Maximum 
pension level  
% 

50

50

60

service cost for pension 
 obligation, financial year 2011  

€

552,899

166,362

651,031

Present value 
(DBO) as at 
31 Dec. 2011 
€

7,180,293

3,804,581

8,324,557

1,370,292

19,309,431

Dr Frank appel, Chairman

Jürgen gerdes 1

Walter scheurle

Total

1  Minimum period not yet complete. in the event of benefits being paid, the provisions of the previous system will apply.

Pension commitments under the new system

Since 4 March 2008, newly appointed Board of Management members have  received 
pension commitments based on a defined contribution plan rather than the previous 
commitments, which were based on the final salary. Under the defined contribu tion 
pension plan, the company credits an annual amount of 35 % of the annual base salary 
to a virtual pension account for the Board of Management member concerned. The 
maximum contribution period is 15 years. The pension capital accrues interest at an 
annual rate equal to the “iBoxx Corporates AA 10 + Annual Yield” rate, or at an annual 
rate of 2.25 % at minimum, and will continue to do so until the pension benefits fall due. 
The pension benefits are paid out in a lump sum in the amount of the value accumulated 
in the pension account. The benefits fall due when the Board of Management member 
reaches the age of 62 or in the case of invalidity or death whilst being employed. In the 
event of benefits falling due, the pension beneficiary may opt to receive an annuity pay-
ment in lieu of a lump sum payment. If this option is exercised, the capital is converted to 
an annuity payment, taking into account the average “iBoxx Corporates AA 10 + Annual 
Yield” for the past ten full calendar years as well as the individual data of the surviving 
dependants and a future pension increase of 1 % per year.

130

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report
Remuneration report

B.11  Board of Management pension commitments under the new system in financial year 2012:  
individual breakdown

€

Ken allen

roger Crook 

bruce edwards

lawrence rosen

angela titzrath (since 1 May 2012)

Total

total 
 contribution 
for 2012

Present value 
(DBO) as at 
31 Dec. 2012

301,000

250,250

325,500

301,000

1,027,195

454,642

1,482,117

1,977,370

526,833 1

198,981

1,704,583

5,140,305

service cost for pension 
 obligation, financial year 2012

297,574

244,487

329,531

300,978

0

1,172,570

1  Pro-rated contribution for eight months, plus a starting balance of €360,000. the starting balance will not be credited if Ms titzrath 

leaves the company of her own volition prior to reaching the age of 60 or works for the company after reaching the age of 60.

B.12  Board of Management pension commitments under the new system in the previous year (2011):  
individual breakdown

€

Ken allen

roger Crook (since 9 March 2011)

bruce edwards

lawrence rosen

Hermann ude (until 8 March 2011)

Total

total 
 contribution 
for 2011

Present value 
(DBO) as at 
31 Dec. 2011

250,250

187,688

301,000

301,000

705,775

189,914

1,114,883

1,636,856

677,250 1

1,765,277

1,717,188

5,412,705

service cost for pension 
 obligation, financial year 2011

266,023

0

322,872

326,478

333,183

1,248,556

1  the total contribution for 2011 consists of a pro-rata amount for three months in the amount of €75,250 plus the €602,000 credited 

to  Hermann ude in connection with his departure from the company.

Benefits for former Board of Management members

Benefits paid to former members of the Board of Management or their surviving 
dependants amounted to €4.6 million in financial year 2012 (previous year: €7.4 mil-
lion). The defined benefit obligation (DBO) for current pensions calculated under IFRS s 
amounted to €78 million (previous year: €57.0 million). A total of €20.9 million of the 
difference is due to a significant reduction in the IAS discount rate compared with the 
previous year and the greater number of pensioners as their pension benefits have fallen 
due. No additional obligations have been incurred in this context.

Supervisory Board remuneration

Pursuant to article 17 of the Articles of Association of Deutsche Post AG resolved 
by the Annual General Meeting, the annual remuneration paid to the members of the 
Super visory  Board  comprises  a  non-performance-related,  i.e.,  fixed,  component,  a 
 variable component geared towards sustainable corporate development and the attend-
ance allowance.

As in the previous year, the fixed component amounted to €40,000. The variable 
remuneration component for financial year 2012 will amount to €1,000 for each €0.02 
by which the consolidated net profit per share for financial year 2014 exceeds the con-
solidated net profit per share for financial year 2011. This variable remuneration compo-
nent will fall due for payment as at the end of the 2015 AGM. The variable remuneration 
component is subject to a cap equal to 50 % of the fixed component.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

131

 
 
The  Supervisory  Board  chairman  and  the  Supervisory  Board  committee  chairs 
 receive an additional 100 % of the fixed and variable remuneration, and the Super visory 
Board deputy chair and committee members receive an additional 50 %. This does not 
apply to the Mediation or Nomination Committees. Those who only serve on the Super-
visory Board or its committees, or act as chair or deputy chair, for part of the year are 
remunerated on a pro-rata basis.

Supervisory Board members receive an attendance allowance of €1,000 for each 
 plenary meeting of the Supervisory Board or committee meeting that they attend, as in 
2011. They are entitled to the reimbursement of out-of-pocket cash expenses  incurred 
in  the  exercise  of  their  office.  Any  value  added  tax  charged  on  Supervisory  Board 
 remuneration or out-of-pocket expenses is reimbursed.

The remuneration for 2012, consisting of a fixed component and the attendance 
allowance, totalled €1,461,500 (previous year: €1,410,000). The following table shows 
the remuneration paid to each Supervisory Board member:

B.13  Remuneration paid to Supervisory Board members in 2012

€

board members

Prof. Dr Wulf von schimmelmann (Chair)

andrea Kocsis (Deputy Chair)

Wolfgang abel (until 12 september 2012)

rolf bauermeister 

Hero brahms

Heinrich Josef busch

Werner gatzer 

Prof. Dr Henning Kagermann

thomas Koczelnik

anke Kufalt

thomas Kunz 

roland oetker

andreas schädler

sabine schielmann

Dr ulrich schröder

Dr stefan schulte

stephan teuscher (since 29 october 2012)

Helga thiel

elmar toime

stefanie Weckesser

Prof. Dr-ing. Katja Windt 

Fixed 
 component

attendance 
allowance

140,000

120,000

42,500

60,000

80,000

40,000

80,000

40,000

80,000

40,000

40,000

80,000

40,000

40,000

40,000

60,000

10,000

60,000

40,000

60,000

40,000

21,000

16,000

6,000

12,000

17,000

7,000

19,000

6,000

19,000

7,000

5,000

17,000

7,000

7,000

6,000

15,000

2,000

16,000

5,000

12,000

7,000

Maximum 
variable 
remuneration 
(cap) 1

70,000

60,000

21,250

30,000

40,000

20,000

40,000

20,000

40,000

20,000

20,000

40,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

30,000

5,000

30,000

20,000

30,000

20,000

total

161,000

136,000

48,500

72,000

97,000

47,000

99,000

46,000

99,000

47,000

45,000

97,000

47,000

47,000

46,000

75,000

12,000

76,000

45,000

72,000

47,000

1  this variable remuneration component will fall due for payment as at the end of the 2015 AGM after determination of the consolidated 

net profit per share for financial year 2014.

132

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report
Remuneration report

The variable remuneration for financial year 2010 will fall due for payment as at the 
end of the 2013 AGM. It will amount to €1,000 for each €0.02 by which the consolidated 
net profit per share for financial year 2012 exceeds the consolidated net profit per share 
for financial year 2009. The variable remuneration for financial year 2010 is subject 
to a cap equal to 50 % of the fixed component. The total variable remuneration paid to 
the members of the Supervisory Board for financial year 2010 amounted to €465,000 
(previous year: no payment), of which €41,875 was to Board members who have now 
left the company and €423,125 to active Board members. The following table shows the 
remuneration paid to each Supervisory Board member:

B.14  Variable remuneration paid to Supervisory Board members for 2010

€

active board members

Prof. Dr Wulf von schimmelmann (Chair)

andrea Kocsis (Deputy Chair)

Wolfgang abel (until 12 september 2012)

rolf bauermeister 

Hero brahms

Heinrich Josef busch

Werner gatzer 

Prof. Dr Henning Kagermann

thomas Koczelnik

anke Kufalt

thomas Kunz 1

roland oetker

andreas schädler

sabine schielmann (since 27 october 2010)

Dr ulrich schröder

Dr stefan schulte

stephan teuscher (since 29 october 2012) 1

Helga thiel

elmar toime

stefanie Weckesser

Prof. Dr-ing. Katja Windt 1

1  not a board member in financial year 2010.

Variable 
remuneration 
(cap)

52,500

45,000

22,500

22,500

30,000

15,000

30,000

15,000

30,000

15,000

–

30,000

15,000

3,125

15,000

22,500

–

22,500

15,000

22,500

–

Accordingly, the active members of the Supervisory Board will receive a total of 
€1,884,625 as the sum of the fixed component and the attendance allowance for 2012, 
and the variable remuneration for 2010.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

133

The remuneration for the previous year (2011), consisting of a fixed component 
and the attendance allowance, is shown in the following table for each Supervisory 
Board member:

B.15  Remuneration paid to Supervisory Board members in 2011

€

board members

Prof. Dr Wulf von schimmelmann (Chair)

andrea Kocsis (Deputy Chair)

Wolfgang abel

Willem van agtmael (until 25 May 2011)

rolf bauermeister 

Hero brahms

Heinrich Josef busch

Werner gatzer 

Prof. Dr Henning Kagermann

thomas Koczelnik

anke Kufalt

thomas Kunz (since 25 May 2011)

roland oetker

Harry roels (until 25 May 2011)

andreas schädler

sabine schielmann

Dr ulrich schröder

Dr stefan schulte

Helga thiel

elmar toime

stefanie Weckesser

Prof. Dr-ing. Katja Windt (since 25 May 2011)

Fixed 
 component

attendance 
allowance

140,000

120,000

60,000

15,000

60,000

80,000

40,000

80,000

40,000

80,000

40,000

25,000

80,000

15,000

40,000

40,000

40,000

60,000

60,000

40,000

60,000

25,000

16,000

14,000

10,000

1,000

10,000

11,000

4,000

16,000

3,000

15,000

4,000

2,000

15,000

1,000

4,000

4,000

3,000

9,000

11,000

4,000

10,000

3,000

Maximum 
variable 
remuneration 
(cap) 1

70,000

60,000

30,000

7,500

30,000

40,000

20,000

40,000

20,000

40,000

20,000

12,500

40,000

7,500

20,000

20,000

20,000

30,000

30,000

20,000

30,000

12,500

total

156,000

134,000

70,000

16,000

70,000

91,000

44,000

96,000

43,000

95,000

44,000

27,000

95,000

16,000

44,000

44,000

43,000

69,000

71,000

44,000

70,000

28,000

1  this variable remuneration component will fall due for payment as at the end of the 2014 AGM after determination of the consolidated 

net profit per share for financial year 2013.

134

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

135  

 214

 ConsoliDateD 
FinanCial 
 stateMents

C 丙 Consolidated FinanCial statementsC 丙  

 ConsoliDateD
 FinanCial  stateMents

inCoMe stateMent   

 137

balanCe sHeet DisClosures  

stateMent oF CoMPreHensiVe inCoMe    138

balanCe sHeet  

CasH FloW stateMent   

 139

 140

stateMent oF CHanges in eQuitY  

 141

notes to tHe  ConsoliDateD FinanCial 
stateMents oF DeutsCHe Post ag  

 142

basis oF PreParation  

1  basis of accounting  
2  Consolidated group  
3  significant transactions  
4  new developments in international accounting under IFRS s  
5  Currency translation  
6  accounting policies  
7  exercise of judgement in applying the accounting policies  
8  Consolidation methods  

segMent rePorting  

9  segment reporting  

inCoMe stateMent DisClosures  

10  revenue  
11  other operating income  
12  Materials expense  
13  staff costs / employees  
14  Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses  
15  other operating expenses  
16  net income from associates  
17  net other finance costs  
18  income taxes  
19  Consolidated net profit for the period  
20  non-controlling interests  
21  earnings per share  
22  Dividend per share  

 142

 142
 142
 148
 149
 151
 152
 159
 160

 161

 161

 164

 164
 164
 164
 165
 165
 166
 166
 166
 166
 167
 167
 168
 168

23  intangible assets  
24  Property, plant and equipment  
25  investment property  
26  investments in associates  
27  non-current financial assets  
28  other non-current assets  
29  Deferred taxes  
30  inventories  
31  income tax assets and liabilities  
32  receivables and other current assets  
33  Current financial assets  
34  Cash and cash equivalents  
35  assets held for sale and liabilities associated with assets  

held for sale  
36  issued capital  
37  other reserves  
38  retained earnings  
39  equity attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders  
40  non-controlling interests  
41  Provisions for pensions and similar obligations  
42  other provisions  
43  Financial liabilities  
44  other liabilities  
45  trade payables  

CasH FloW DisClosures  

46  Cash flow disclosures  

otHer DisClosures  

47  risks and financial instruments of the group  
48  Contingent liabilities  
49  other financial obligations  
50 litigation  
51 share-based payment  
52 related party disclosures  
53 auditor’s fees  
54 exemptions under the HGB and local foreign legislation  
55 Declaration of Conformity with the german Corporate  

 governance Code  

56 significant events after the balance sheet date  

 169

 169
 171
 172
 172
 172
 173
 173
 173
 173
 174
 174
 174

 174
 176
 177
 178
 178
 179
 179
 185
 187
 189
 189

 190

 190

 191

 191
 205
 205
 206
 207
 208
 211
 211

 212
 212

resPonsibilitY stateMent  

 213

inDePenDent auDitor’s rePort  

 214

C.01  inCoMe stateMent 

1 January to 31 December

€ m

revenue 

other operating income

total operating income

Materials expense

staff costs

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses

other operating expenses

total operating expenses

Profit from operating activities (EBIT)

net income from associates

other financial income

other finance costs

Foreign currency result

net other finance costs

Net finance costs

Profit before income taxes

income taxes

Consolidated net profit for the period

attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders

attributable to non-controlling interests

Basic earnings per share (€)

Diluted earnings per share (€)

 Consolidated Financial  Statements
Income Statement 

note

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

21

2011

52,829

2,050

54,879

–30,544

–16,730

–1,274

–3,895

– 52,443

2012

55,512

2,168

57,680

–31,863

–17,770

–1,339

– 4,043

– 55,015

2,436

2,665

60

590

2

657

–1,391

–1,049

–36

– 837

–777

1,659

–393

1,266

1,163

103

0.96

0.96

–37

– 429

– 427

2,238

– 458

1,780

1,658

122

1.37

1.32

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

137

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C.02  stateMent oF CoMPreHensiVe inCoMe

1 January to 31 December

€ m

Consolidated net profit for the period

Currency translation reserve

Changes from unrealised gains and losses

Changes from realised gains and losses

Other changes in retained earnings

Changes from unrealised gains and losses

Changes from realised gains and losses

IAS 39 hedging reserve

Changes from unrealised gains and losses

Changes from realised gains and losses

IAS 39 revaluation reserve

Changes from unrealised gains and losses

Changes from realised gains and losses

IFRS 3 revaluation reserve

Changes from unrealised gains and losses

Changes from realised gains and losses

income taxes relating to components of other comprehensive income

share of other comprehensive income of associates (after tax)

Other comprehensive income (after tax)

Total comprehensive income

attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders

attributable to non-controlling interests

note

18

2011

1,266

193

–26

1

0

– 5

2

–7

0

–1

0

–1

10

166

1,432

1,331

101

2012

1,780

7

3

2

0

–23

59

–12

0

–2

0

–7

–37

–10

1,770

1,650

120

138

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C.03  balanCe sHeet

€ m

ASSETS

intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

investment property

investments in associates

non-current financial assets

other non-current assets

Deferred tax assets

Non-current assets

inventories

income tax assets

receivables and other current assets

Current financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

assets held for sale 

Current assets

Total ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

issued capital

other reserves

retained earnings

equity attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders

non-controlling interests

Equity

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations

Deferred tax liabilities

other non-current provisions

non-current provisions

non-current financial liabilities

other non-current liabilities

non-current liabilities

Non-current provisions and liabilities

Current provisions

Current financial liabilities

trade payables

income tax liabilities

other current liabilities

liabilities associated with assets held for sale 

Current liabilities  

Current provisions and liabilities

Total EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

 Consolidated Financial  Statements
Balance Sheet

note

31 Dec. 2011

31 Dec. 2012

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

29

42

43

44

42

43

45

31

44

35

12,196

6,493

40

44

729

570

1,153

12,151

6,663

43

46

1,039

633

1,257

21,225

21,832

273

239

9,089

2,498

3,123

1,961

17,183

38,408

1,209

1,714

8,086

11,009

190

322

127

9,112

252

2,400

76

12,289

34,121

1,209

1,786

8,956

11,951

213

11,199

12,164

4,445

255

2,174

6,874

1,366

347

1,713

8,587

2,134

5,644

6,168

570

4,106

0

16,488

18,622

38,408

2,442

229

1,972

4,643

4,413

276

4,689

9,332

1,663

403

5,991

534

4,004

30

10,962

12,625

34,121

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

139

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C.04  CasH FloW stateMent 

1 January to 31 December

€ m

Consolidated net profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders

Consolidated net profit for the period attributable to non-controlling interests

income taxes

net other finance costs

net income from associates

Profit from operating activities (EBIT)

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses

net income from disposal of non-current assets

non-cash income and expense

Change in provisions

Change in other non-current assets and liabilities

income taxes paid

Net cash from operating activities before changes in working capital

Changes in working capital

inventories

receivables and other current assets

liabilities and other items

Net cash from / used in operating activities

subsidiaries and other business units

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

other non-current financial assets

Proceeds from disposal of non-current assets

subsidiaries and other business units

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

other non-current financial assets

Cash paid to acquire non-current assets

interest received

Dividend received

Current financial assets

Net cash used in investing activities

Proceeds from issuance of non-current financial liabilities

repayments of non-current financial liabilities

Change in current financial liabilities

other financing activities

Proceeds from transactions with non-controlling interests and venturers

Cash paid for transactions with non-controlling interests

Dividend paid to Deutsche Post AG shareholders

Dividend paid to non-controlling interest holders

Purchase of treasury shares

Proceeds from issuing shares or other equity instruments

interest paid

Net cash used in / from financing activities

net change in cash and cash equivalents

effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

Changes in cash and cash equivalents associated with assets held for sale

Changes in cash and cash equivalents due to changes in consolidated group

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of reporting period

Cash and cash equivalents at end of reporting period

note

46.1

2011

1,163

103

393

837

– 60

2,436

1,274

– 54

–7

– 897

– 63

– 455

2,234

–37

– 406

580

2,371

58

211

16

285

– 84

–1,716

– 80

–1,880

72

0

394

2012

1,658

122

458

429

–2

2,665

1,339

–74

– 97

–3,034

– 53

– 527

219

– 51

–221

–150

–203

39

225

35

299

– 57

–1,639

–336

–2,032

46

0

–10

46.2

–1,129

–1,697

18

–338

– 97

– 60

0

–1

–786

– 99

–21

0

–163

–1,547

–305

13

0

0

3,415

3,123

3,176

–773

– 50

31

49

– 62

– 846

–78

–26

74

–296

1,199

–701

–15

–7

0

3,123

2,400

46.3

46.4

140

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C.05  stateMent oF CHanges in eQuitY

1 January to 31 December

€ m

note

balance at 1 January 2011

Capital transactions with owner

Dividend

transactions with non-controlling 
interests

Changes in non-controlling 
 interests due to changes 
in  consolidated group

Purchase of treasury shares

share Matching scheme ( issuance)

share Matching scheme (exercise)

Total comprehensive income

Consolidated net profit  
for the period

Currency translation differences

other changes

issued 
capital

36

1,209

Capital 
reserves

37

2,158

0

0

0

–2

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

33

–21

0

0

0

Balance at 31 December 2011

balance at 1 January 2012

1,209

1,209

2,170

2,170

Capital transactions with owner 

Dividend

transactions with non-controlling 
interests

Changes in non-controlling 
 interests due to changes 
in  consolidated group

issue of shares or other equity 
instruments

Purchase of treasury shares

share Matching scheme ( issuance)

share Matching scheme (exercise)

Total comprehensive income

Consolidated net profit  
for the period

Currency translation differences

other changes

0

0

0

0

–2

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

74

0

34

–24

0

0

0

Balance at 31 December 2012

1,209

2,254

other reserves

IAS 39 
revaluation 
reserve 1

IAS 39 
 hedging 
reserve 1

IFRS 3 
revaluation 
reserve

Currency 
translation 
reserve

37

86

37

–33

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

90

90

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

– 91

–1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

–1

–34

–34

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

27

–7

37

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

–1

5

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

–2

3

37

– 682

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

165

0

– 517

– 517

0

–2

0

0

0

0

0

0

56

0

 Consolidated Financial  Statements
Statement of Changes in Equity

equity 
attributable 
to Deutsche 
Post AG 
shareholders

39

10,511

retained 
earnings

38

7,767

non-
controlling 
interests

40

185

total equity

10,696

–786

–786

– 99

– 885

– 59

– 59

– 833

– 96

– 929

0

–22

33

1

1,163

165

3

1,331

11,009

56

0

74

–26

34

0

8,086

11,009

– 846

– 846

0

–20

0

20

1,163

0

1

8,086

58

0

0

–24

0

22

1,658

0

2

0

3

0

0

0

– 59

3

–22

33

1

103

–2

0

101

190

190

–79

–22

4

0

0

0

0

1,266

163

3

1,432

11,199

11,199

– 925

34

4

74

–26

34

0

–708

– 97

– 805

1,658

56

– 64

1,650

11,951

122

–2

0

120

213

1,780

54

– 64

1,770

12,164

– 463

8,956

1  the IAS 39 hedging reserve and IAS 39 revaluation reserve previously presented together in the IAS 39 reserves column are now shown separately to increase transparency.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

141

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 

Consolidated group

In addition to Deutsche Post AG, the consolidated financial 
statements  for  the  period  ended  31 December 2012  include  all 
 German and foreign companies in which Deutsche Post AG directly 
or indirectly holds a majority of voting rights, or whose activities 
it can control in some other way. The companies are consolidated 
from the date on which the Group is able to exercise control.

The companies listed in the table below are consolidated in 

addition to the parent company Deutsche Post AG.

Consolidated group

Number of fully consolidated companies 
( subsidiaries)

german

Foreign

Number of proportionately consolidated joint 
ventures

german

Foreign

Number of companies accounted for using  
the equity method (associates) 1

german

Foreign

2011

2012

76

754

1

13

31

28

85

730

1

3

0

8

1  the interest in Deutsche Postbank AG had been measured in accordance with IFRS 5 

since March 2011 and was disposed of in February 2012.

The decrease in the number of equity-accounted companies is 
largely attributable to the derecognition of Deutsche Postbank AG 
and its subsidiaries. The complete list of the Group’s shareholdings 
in accordance with section 313 (2)  nos. 1 to 4 and section 313 (3) 
of the HGB can be accessed on the website, www.dp-dhl.com/en/
investors.html.

notes to tHe  ConsoliDateD 
FinanCial stateMents oF 
DeutsCHe Post ag

basis oF PreParation

Basis of accounting

1 

As a listed company, Deutsche Post AG prepared its consoli-
dated  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  the   International 
 Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS s), as adopted by the  European 
Union (EU), and the provisions of commercial law to be  additionally 
applied in accordance with section 315 a (1) of the  Handelsgesetzbuch 
(HGB – German Commercial Code). The financial statements rep-
resent an annual financial report within the meaning of the Trans-
parenzrichtlinie-Umsetzungsgesetz  (TUG –  Transparency  Directive 
Implementing  Act)  (section  37 v  of  the  Wertpapierhandelsgesetz 
(WpHG – German Securities Trading Act)) dated 5 January 2007.
The requirements of the Standards applied have been satisfied 
in full, and the consolidated financial statements therefore provide 
a true and fair view of the Group’s net assets, financial position and 
results of operations. 

The consolidated financial statements consist of the income 
statement and the statement of comprehensive income, the balance 
sheet, the cash flow statement, the statement of changes in equity 
and the Notes. In order to improve the clarity of presentation, vari-
ous items in the balance sheet and in the income statement have 
been combined. These items are disclosed and explained separately 
in the Notes. The income statement has been classified in accord-
ance with the nature of expense method.

The accounting policies, as well as the explanations and dis-
closures in the Notes to the IFRS consolidated financial statements 
for financial year 2012, are generally based on the same accounting 
policies used in the 2011 consolidated financial statements. Excep-
tions  to  this  are  the  changes  in  international  financial  reporting 
 note 4  that  have  been  required 
 under  the  IFRS s  described  in 
to be applied by the Group since 1 January 2012. The accounting 
 policies are explained in 

 note 6.

The financial year of Deutsche Post AG and its consolidated 
subsidiaries  is  the  calendar  year.  Deutsche  Post  AG,  whose  regis-
tered  office  is  in  Bonn,  Germany,  is  entered  in  the  commercial 
regis ter of the Bonn Local Court.

These consolidated financial statements were authorised for 
issue by a resolution of the Board of Management of Deutsche Post 
AG dated 18 February 2013.

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in euros 
(€). Unless otherwise stated, all amounts are given in millions of 
euros (€ million, € m).

142

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisitions in 2012

Insignificant acquisitions, 2012

Date of 
 acquisition

1 February  
2012

€ m

1 January to 31 December

ASSETS

non-current assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

name

Country

segment

interest in %

tag belgium SA, 
brussels (formerly 
Dentsu brussels SA) belgium

SUPPLY CHAIN

100

intelliad Media 
gmbH, Munich

2 sisters Food 
group (2SFG), 
Heathrow

germany

MAIL

100

9 July 2012

assets held for sale

UK

SUPPLY CHAIN

asset deal

27 July 2012

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

all you need gmbH, 
berlin

germany

MAIL

exel saudia LLC, 
al Khobar

saudi arabia

SUPPLY CHAIN

luftfrachtsicherheit-
service gmbH, 
Frankfurt am Main germany

1  acquired with a view to resale (IFRS 5) 
2  step acquisition.

GLOBAL 
FORWARDING, 
FREIGHT

 note 35.

24 october  
2012 1, 2

82

terms of 
the contract 
amended

16 october  
2012 2

non-current liabilities and provisions

Current liabilities and provisions

liabilities associated with assets 
held for sale

27 august  
2012

50

Net assets

of which in accordance with IFRS 5 

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

Carrying 
amount

adjustments

Fair value

6

22

5

6

39

3

11

1

15

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6

22

5

6

39

3

11

1

15

24

5

INSIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS IN 2012

In the period up to 31 December 2012, Deutsche Post DHL 
acquired companies that did not materially affect the Group’s net 
assets, financial position and results of operations, either individu-
ally or in the aggregate. 

Tag Belgium is active in the communications sector and spe-
cialises in the design, production and localisation of print media. 
intelliAd Media is a bid-management technology supplier active in 
the area of search engine advertising. 

2SFG is active in the field of airline catering. 
Deutsche Post DHL increased its previous 33 % stake in All 
you  need  GmbH,  a  mobile  commerce  supermarket,  to  82 %.  The 
stake was further increased to 90.25 % through a dis proportionate 
capital  increase.  The  shares  were  acquired  with  a  view  to  resale, 
since Deutsche Post DHL would like to focus on taking over and 
enhancing the logistics infrastructure. 

Exel Saudia LLC, a joint venture that was previously propor-
tionately consolidated and in which Deutsche Post DHL  continues 
to  hold  50 %  of  the  shares,  was  fully  consolidated  because  the 
terms of the contract were amended. The change in consolidation 
method resulted in goodwill of €6 million from the disposal of the 
previous interest. The transaction resulted in a gain of €11 million, 
which is reported in other operating income. 

Deutsche Post DHL acquired 50 % of the shares of Luftfracht-
sicherheit-Service GmbH. The company is fully consolidated due 
to the terms of the contract.

The calculation of goodwill is presented in the following table:

Goodwill, 2012

€ m

Cash purchase price

Fair value of the existing equity interest 1

Total cost

less net assets

Difference

less goodwill in accordance with IFRS 5

Plus negative goodwill

Plus non-controlling interests 2

less goodwill arising from the change in consolidation method

Goodwill

Fair value

30

25

55

24

31

0

2

6

6

33

1  gain from the change in the method of consolidation is recognised under other operating 

income.

2  non-controlling interests are recognised at their carrying amount.

Purchase  price  allocation  for  Tag  Belgium  and  Luftfracht-
sicherheit-Service GmbH resulted in negative goodwill of €2 mil-
lion,  which  is  reported  in  other  operating  income.  The  negative 
goodwill is attributable to the coverage of potential business risks. 
The  companies  contributed  €16 million  to  consolidated  rev-
enue and €0 million to consolidated EBIT since the date of initial 
consolidation.  If  these  companies  had  been  purchased  at  1 Janu-
ary 2012, they would have added €25 million to consolidated rev-
enue and €2 million to consolidated EBIT.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

143

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable purchase prices, which are presented in the follow-

ACQUISITION OF TAG EQUITY IN 2011

ing table, were agreed for the acquisitions in financial year 2012:

Contingent consideration, 2012

basis

Period for 
financial years 
from / to

revenue and sales margin 

2012 to 2014

results  
range from

€0 to  
€9 million

Fair value 
of payment 
obligation

€4 million

In  mid-July 2011,  Deutsche  Post  DHL  acquired  the  com-
pany  Tag  EquityCo  Limited,  Cayman  Islands,  together  with  its 
subsidiaries. Tag Equity is an international provider of marketing 
execution and production services. The company was assigned to 
the Williams Lea business unit within the SUPPLY CHAIN segment. 
Final purchase price allocation is presented in the following tables.

Final purchase price allocation for Tag Equity, 2011

The  transaction  costs  for  the  insignificant  acquisitions 

amounted to less than €1 million.

€24 million was paid for the companies acquired in financial 
year 2012. €38 million was paid for companies acquired in previ-
ous years. The cash purchase price for the companies acquired was 
paid by transferring cash funds. 

Acquisitions in 2011

€ m

ASSETS

non-current assets

Customer relationships

brand name

software

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

name

Country

segment

interest in %

Date of 
 acquisition

adcloud gmbH 
 (adcloud), Cologne germany

MAIL

100

1 april 2011

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

non-current liabilities and provisions

Deferred tax liabilities

Current liabilities and provisions

italy

SUPPLY CHAIN

100

11 May 2011

Net assets

Carrying 
amount

adjustments

Fair value

13

–

–

–

54

5

72

–

–

102

102

–

47

4

11

–

–

62

–

16

–

16

13

47

4

11

54

5

134

–

16

102

118

16

GLOBAL 
FORWARDING, 
FREIGHT

SUPPLY CHAIN

GLOBAL 
FORWARDING, 
FREIGHT

USA

Cayman 
islands

USA

100

1 June 2011

100

11 July 2011

The customer relationships are being amortised over 20 years 
using the straight-line method, whilst the software is being amort-
ised over five years. The brand name has an indefinite useful life.

Goodwill for Tag Equity, 2011

100

29 July 2011

€ m

australia

SUPPLY CHAIN

asset deal

Cost

less net assets

Goodwill

1 october  
2011

Fair value

91

16

75

The transaction costs for this acquisition amounted to €6 mil-

lion. In addition, shareholder loans of €33 million were repaid.

In  2011,  the  companies  contributed  €76 million  to  consoli-
dated revenue and €11 million to consolidated EBIT since the date 
of  initial  consolidation.  Inclusion  of  the  companies  as  at  1 Janu-
ary 2011  would  have  affected  consolidated  revenue  by  adding 
€67 million and consolidated EBIT by adding €8 million. 

eurodifarm srl. 
(eurodifarm), lodi

standard Forward-
ing LLC (standard 
Forwarding), 
east Moline

tag equityCo lim-
ited (tag equity), 
grand Cayman

lifeConex LLC 
(lifeConex), 
 Plantation

Post logistics 
 australasia, 
 Melbourne  
(Post logistics 
australasia)

144

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INSIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS IN 2011

Variable purchase prices, which are given in the table below, 

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

were agreed for the acquisitions:

Contingent consideration, 2011

basis

Period for 
financial years 
from / to

revenue and gross income 1

2011 to 2013

EBITDA

2011  
and 2012

revenue and EBITDA

2011 to 2013

results  
range from

€0 to  
€2 million

Fair value 
of payment 
obligation

€2 million

unlimited

€1 million

€0 to  
€3 million

€2 million

1  both the range and the fair value changed due to amended agreements and earnings 

forecasts.

In the year 2011, the insignificant acquisitions made in 2011 
contributed €68 million to consolidated revenue and €–3 million to 
consolidated EBIT since the date of initial consolidation. Inclusion 
of  the  companies  as  at  1 January 2011  would  not  have  materially 
 affected consolidated revenue and consolidated EBIT.

€98 million  was  expended  on  purchasing  subsidiaries  in 
the  period  up  to  31 December 2011,  plus  a  further  €8 million 
for  subsidiaries  already  acquired  in  previous  years.  In  addition, 
Deutsche Post DHL received €8 million in purchase price adjust-
ments relating to companies acquired in previous years. The cash 
purchase prices of the acquired companies were paid by transfer-
ring cash funds.

Disposal and deconsolidation effects in 2012

EXPRESS SEGMENT

The  sales  of  the  Express  Couriers  Limited  (ECL),  New  Zea-
land, and Parcel Direct Group Pty Limited (PDG), Australia, joint 
ventures  closed  at  the  end  of  June 2012. The  buyer  is  the  former 
joint venture partner, New Zealand Post.

In  the  period  up  to  31 December 2011,  Deutsche  Post  DHL 
acquired  further  subsidiaries  that  did  not  materially  affect  the 
Group’s  net  assets,  financial  position  and  results  of  operations, 
 either individually or in the aggregate. 

Adcloud is a specialised provider of internet advertising space 

marketing and placement services. 

Eurodifarm  is  a  specialist  in  the  temperature-controlled 

 distribution of pharmaceutical and diagnostic products. 

Standard Forwarding, a US company in the forwarding busi-
ness, was acquired in order to expand capacity in the Freight busi-
ness unit. 

Deutsche Post DHL acquired all of the shares of its LifeConEx 
LLC,  USA,  joint  venture,  previously  held  by  LCAG  USA  Inc.,  USA. 
This company provides end-to-end cold chain logistics services for 
the life sciences industry. The change in the method of consolida-
tion resulted in a gain of €1.3 million, which is reported in other 
operating income. 

Under  the  terms  of  an  asset  deal,  DHL  Supply  Chain  Pty. 
 Limited, Australia, has acquired from Post Logistics Australasia 
assets and liabilities relating to its road freight transport and ware-
housing and storage services.

Insignificant acquisitions, 2011

€ m

1 January to 31 December

ASSETS

non-current assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

non-current liabilities and provisions

Current liabilities and provisions

Net assets

Goodwill, 2011

€ m

Cash purchase price

Fair value of the existing equity interest 1

Total cost

less net assets

Goodwill

Carrying 
amount

adjustments

Fair value

17

26

9

52

6

42

48

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

17

26

9

52

6

42

48

4

Fair value

63

1

64

4

60

1  gain from the change in the method of consolidation is recognised under other operating 

income.

The transaction costs for the insignificant acquisitions in 2011 

amounted to €2.6 million.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

145

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT SEGMENT

In the first quarter of 2012, DHL Global Forwarding & Co. LLC 
(DHL Oman), Oman, was deconsolidated, as the reasons for con-
solidation no longer existed. The company has been accounted for 
using the equity method since February 2012. 

Disposal and deconsolidation effects, 2012

€ m

1 January to 31 December

non-current assets

Current assets

assets held for sale 1

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets

non-current liabilities and provisions

Current liabilities and provisions

liabilities associated with assets held for sale 1

Equity and liabilities

Net assets

total consideration received

income (+) / expenses (–) from the currency translation reserve

non-controlling interests

Deconsolidation gain (+)

1  Data before deconsolidation.
2  Fair value of existing investment.

DHL oman

ECL, PDG

total

0

8

0

1

9

0

6

0

6

3

1 2

0

2

0

38

19

0

9

66

24

41

0

65

1

49

– 4

0

44

38

27

0

10

75

24

47

0

71

4

50

– 4

2

44

Disposal  gains  are  shown  under  other  operating  income; 

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT SEGMENT

Part of the transport and warehouse services business of DHL 
Freight  Netherlands  B. V.,  the  Netherlands,  was  sold  in  the  third 
quarter  of  2011.  The  effects  are  presented  in  the  Miscellaneous 
column. 

 disposal losses are reported under other operating expenses. 

Disposal and deconsolidation effects in 2011

SUPPLY CHAIN SEGMENT

In April 2011, Deutsche Post DHL sold the freight forward-
ing  company  Exel  Transportation  Services  Inc.,  USA,  including 
Exel  Trucking  Inc.,  USA,  and  Exel  Transportation  Services  Inc. 
( Canadian Branch), Canada, to the US-based Hub Group.

EXPRESS SEGMENT

At the end of June 2011, DHL Express Canada sold its domes-
tic Canadian express business to TransForce, a transport company. 
The two companies entered into a ten-year strategic alliance. The 
domestic express business is to be handled by TransForce’s Loomis 
Express subsidiary. DHL Express Canada will continue to provide 
international express services. 

The sale of four Chinese companies, the sale of assets of the 
Australian  company  Western  Australia  and  the  sale  of  Northern 
Kope Parcel Express, Australia, are reported in the Miscellaneous 
column.

146

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

exel transpor-
tation services

DHL express 

Canada Miscellaneous

0

0

113

0

113

0

0

62

62

51

55

24

0

28

11

2

0

0

13

0

5

0

5

8

10

1

0

3

2

0

18

10

30

0

11

11

22

8

2

1

3

–2

total

13

2

131

10

156

0

16

73

89

67

67

26

3

29

The consolidated joint ventures relate primarily to  AeroLogic 
GmbH, Germany, Bahwan Exel LLC, Oman, Danzas DV LCC,  Russia, 
and EV Logistics, Canada.

Additional information on the size of the shareholdings can 
be found in the list of shareholdings, which can be accessed on the 
website, www.dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html. 

Disposal and deconsolidation effects in 2011

Disposal and deconsolidation effects, 2011

€ m

1 January to 31 December

non-current assets

Current assets

assets held for sale 1

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets

non-current liabilities and provisions

Current liabilities and provisions

liabilities associated with assets held for sale 1

Equity and liabilities

Net assets

total consideration received

income from the currency translation reserve

non-controlling interests

Deconsolidation gain (+) / loss (–)

1  Data before deconsolidation.

Joint ventures

The following table provides information about the balance 
sheet  and  income  statement  items  attributable  to  the  significant 
joint ventures included in the consolidated financial statements:

As at 31 December

€ m

BALANCE SHEET

intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

receivables and other assets

Cash and cash equivalents

trade payables, other liabilities

Provisions

Financial liabilities

INCOME STATEMENT

revenue 2

Profit from operating activities (EBIT)

1  Proportionate single-entity financial statement data.
2  revenue excluding intra-group revenue.

2011 1

2012 1

100

24

73

17

66

17

63

271

22

0

14

68

9

40

32

2

120

9

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

147

 
 
 
 
 
3 

Significant transactions

Sale of Deutsche Postbank shares

As  part  of  the  sale  of  Deutsche  Postbank  shares,  a   further 
27.4 % interest in Deutsche Postbank AG was transferred to Deutsche 
Bank AG at the end of February 2012, when a mandatory exchange-
able bond fell due. 

In  addition,  Deutsche  Post  AG  exercised  its  put  option  for 
the remaining 12.1 % of the shares it held in Postbank. Both trans-
actions are part of a three-phase sale of shares agreed between the 
two  companies  in  January 2009.  Now  that  the  second  and  third 
stages of the transaction have been completed, Deutsche Post AG 
no longer holds any shares in Deutsche Postbank AG. 

The financial instruments relating to the Postbank sale were 
measured for the last time in February 2012; no such measurement 
will be performed again in the future.

The  effects  of  the  Postbank  sale  for  the  period  up  to  31 De-

cember 2012 are as follows:

Effects of the disposal of Deutsche Postbank AG

€ m

Mandatory exchangeable bond

Cash collateral

Forward

Put option

Total

less carrying amount of the investment

Total

less expenses from the currency translation reserve

Plus income from the IAS 39 reserves

Disposal gain 

other effects of the Postbank sale

total effect

February 2012

2,946

1,305

–1,265

– 566

2,420

1,916

504

44

81

541

–355

186

The  disposal  of  the  Postbank  shares  thus  resulted  in  a  total 
effect of €186 million, which is reported in net finance costs. The 
following table shows the other effects of the Postbank sale on the 
income statement:

2011

–130

– 50

–160

–71

– 63

115

–359

2012

–20

– 8

–228

– 99

0

0

–355

Other effects of the Postbank sale

€ m

interest expense on exchangeable bond 

interest expense on cash collateral

net loss on subsequent measurement of the forward

net loss on measurements of the option

impairment loss on measurement of shares before 
reclassification under IFRS 5

reversal of impairment loss (+) on shares under IFRS 5

Total

148

The  prior-year  impairment  loss  on  measurement  of  shares  
before  reclassification   under  IFRS 5  contained  the  balance  of 
impair ment  losses  of  €136 million  and  impairment  loss  reversals 
of €251 million.

Demand for repayment of state aid

In order to implement the European Commission’s state aid 
ruling  of  25 January 2012,  the  German  federal  government  on 
29 May 2012  called  upon  Deutsche  Post  AG  to  make  a  payment 
of  €298 million,  including  interest.  In  agreement  with  the  gov-
ernment, Deutsche Post AG paid this amount into a trust account 
on  1 June 2012  and  appealed  the  recovery  order.  The  European 
Commission had instituted state aid proceedings in 2007 and in 
its  decision had come to the conclusion that the pension relief on 
civil servants’ pensions granted by the Bundesnetzagentur (German 
 federal network agency) during the price approval process had led 
to  illegal  state  aid  being  granted  to  Deutsche  Post  AG.  Deutsche 
Post AG is of the opinion that the decision cannot withstand legal 
review and appealed it to the European Court of Justice in Luxem-
bourg on 4 April 2012. The Federal Republic of Germany also filed 
an appeal.

The European Commission has thus far not expressed its final 
acceptance of the calculation of the state aid to be repaid. It can-
not be ruled out that Deutsche Post AG will be required to make 
a  higher  payment.  In  its  state  aid  ruling  of  25 January 2012,  the 
European Commission did not make a definitive assessment of the 
amount of the purported unlawful state aid. Such amount has to be 
calculated by the Federal Republic of Germany. The payment made 
was reported solely in the balance sheet under non-current assets; 
the earnings position remained unaffected. Detailed information 
regarding the state aid proceedings can be found in 

 note 50. 

Additional VAT payment

The German tax authorities announced in June 2012 that they 
would be modifying Deutsche Post AG’s tax assessments in the third 
quarter of 2012. The decision resulted from an extensive review of 
complex issues pertaining to tax law and relates to the  period from 
1998 to 30 June 2010. The amended law on VAT for postal services 
took effect on 1 July 2010. The additional VAT  payment amounted 
to  €482 million  after  the  deduction  of  outstanding  tax  refund 
claims, and was made by the end of the third quarter. A large part 
of the additional payment amount relates to tax matters for which 
the Group had in some cases already recognised provisions. The 
impact  on  EBIT  for  the  financial  year  amounted  to  €181 million, 
while the interest expense was €115 million. 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

Issuance of bonds and convertible bond

Deutsche  Post  Finance  B. V.  placed  two  new  bonds  with  an 
 aggregate  principal  amount  of  €1.25 billion  on  the  market  in 
June 2012 under the Debt Issuance Programme (DIP). The bonds 
are fully guaranteed by Deutsche Post AG. They mature on 27 June 
2017 and 27 June 2022, respectively; 

 note 43.

At the beginning of December 2012, Deutsche Post AG issued 
bonds with a principal amount of €2 billion to fund pension obli-
gations. In more detail, these comprise two bonds with principal 
amounts of €300 million and €700 million, respectively, and a con-
vertible bond on Deutsche Post AG shares with a principal amount 
of €1 billion. The convertible bond has conversion rights that can 
be exercised between 16 January 2013 and 21  November 2019, and 
a call option giving Deutsche Post AG the right to redeem the bond 
early  for  the  principal  amount  plus  accrued  interest  if  Deutsche 
Post  AG’s  share  price  more  than  temporarily  exceeds  130 %  of 
the  conversion  price  applicable  at  that  time.  The  option  can  be 
 exercised   between  6 December 2017  and  16  November 2019. The 
terms  of  the  contract  for  the  convertible  bond  mean  that  it  has 
to be split into a debt component and an  equity component. The 
 equity  instrument in the amount of €74 million is reported under 
the  capital reserves, whilst the debt component of €920 million is 
reported  under  financial  liabilities  (bonds).  Transaction  costs  of 
€0.5 and €5.8 million are included in the aforementioned amounts. 
Further  disclosures  on  the  convertible  bond  are  contained  in 

 note 43.

4 

New developments in international accounting under IFRS s

The following Standards, changes to Standards and Interpre-

tations are required to be applied on or after 1 January 2012:

effective for 
financial years 
beginning  
on or after subject matter and significance

amendments to IFRS 7  
(Financial instruments: 
Disclosures – transfers 
of  Financial assets)

1 July 2011 

additional disclosure requirements for transfers of financial instruments designed to provide an improved understanding 
of the effect of the risks remaining with the entity. the amendment has no significant effect on the consolidated financial 
statements. 

New accounting pronouncements adopted by the EU but only 
required to be applied in future periods

The following Standards, changes to Standards and Interpre-
tations have already been endorsed by the European Union. How-
ever, they will only be required to be applied in the future.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

149

 
 
 
 
effective for 
financial years 
beginning  
on or after subject matter and significance

1 July 2012 

in future, entities must classify items presented in other comprehensive income by whether or not they will be reclassified 
to profit or loss in subsequent periods (recycling). the presentation will be adjusted. there are no other effects. 

1 January 2013 

1 January 2013 1 

this will significantly affect the recognition and measurement of the cost of defined benefit pension plans and termination 
benefits. the corresponding effects on the balance sheet as well as some changes to the disclosure requirements will also 
have to be taken into account. With regard to defined benefit plans, the future recognition of actuarial gains and losses 
(remeasurements) in other comprehensive income for the period, and the future use of a uniform discount rate for provisions 
for pensions and similar obligations, are of  particular significance. the future more detailed requirements on the recognition 
of administration costs are also significant. there will be a changed categorization with regard to termination benefits.  
Due to the application of IAS 19R, staff costs for financial year 2012 will remain almost constant. in financial year 2013, staff 
costs will increase by approximately €10 million compared with the adjusted figures for 2012. the adjustment will increase 
net finance costs for 2012 by approximately €29 million, whereas net financial income/net finance costs for 2013 will improve 
by approximately €121 million compared with the adjusted figures for financial year 2012. Provisions for defined benefit plans 
and termination benefits will increase by a total of approximately €3.1 billion as at 31 December 2012, whilst other comprehen-
sive income will be reduced by approximately €3.1 billion. the changes will be applied with effect from the beginning of 2013. 

the amendment refers to the introduction of a mandatory rebuttable presumption in respect of the treatment of  temporary 
taxable differences for investment property for which the fair value model is applied in accordance with IAS 40. the new 
rule is important for countries where the tax rules governing the use and the sale of such assets differ. as part of this 
amendment, SIC-21 (income taxes – recovery of revalued non-Depreciable assets) was also incorporated into IAS 12. the 
change has no effect on the consolidated financial statements.

1 January 2014 

these provide clarification on the conditions for offsetting financial assets and liabilities in the balance sheet. a right 
of set-off must be legally enforceable for all counterparties, both in the normal course of business and also in the event 
of  insolvency, and it must exist at the balance sheet date. the standard specifies which gross settlement systems can be 
regarded as net settlement for this purpose. the amendment will not have any significant effect on the presentation of 
the financial statements. in individual cases, additional disclosures may be required. 

1 January 2013 

the amendments to IAS 32 relating to the presentation of the offsetting of financial assets and liabilities and the associated 
additions to IFRS 7 require comprehensive disclosure of the rights of set-off, especially for those rights that do not result in 
offsetting under IFRS s. the change will have no significant influence on the financial statements. 

standard  
(issue date)

amendments to IAS 1 
( Presentation of Financial 
statements: Presentation 
of items of other Compre-
hensive income)  
(16 June 2011)

amendments to IAS 19 
( employee benefits)  
(16 June 2011) 

amendments to IAS 12 
(Deferred tax: recovery 
of underlying assets)  
(20 December 2010) 

amendments to IAS 32 
( Financial instruments: 
Presentation – offset-
ting  Financial assets 
and  Financial liabilities)  
(16 December 2011)

amendments to IFRS 7 
( Financial instruments: 
Disclosures – offset-
ting  Financial assets 
and  Financial liabilities)  
(16 December 2011)

IFRS 10 (Consolidated 
 Financial statements)  
(12 May 2011) 

IFRS 11 (Joint arrangements)  
(12 May 2011) 

1 January 2014 1 

1 January 2014 1 

this introduces a uniform definition of control for all entities that are to be included in the consolidated financial state-
ments. the standard also contains comprehensive requirements on determining a relationship where control exists. IFRS 10 
supersedes IAS 27 (Consolidated and separate Financial statements) as well as SIC-12 (Consolidation – special  Purpose 
entities). special purpose entities previously consolidated in accordance with SIC-12 are now subject to IFRS 10. Preliminary 
assessment findings indicate no significant effects for the group. 

IFRS 11 supersedes IAS 31 (interests in Joint Ventures). the option to proportionately consolidate joint ventures will be 
abolished. However, IFRS 11 will not require all entities that are currently subject to proportionate consolidation to be 
 accounted for using the equity method in the future. IFRS 11 provides a uniform definition of the term “joint arrangements” 
and distinguishes between joint operations and joint ventures. the interest in a joint operation is recognised on the basis 
of direct rights and obligations, whereas the interest in the profit or loss of a joint venture must be accounted for using 
the equity method. the mandatory application of the equity method to joint ventures will in future follow the requirements 
of the revised IAS 28 (investments in associates and Joint Ventures). Preliminary assessment findings indicate no significant 
effects for the group. 

IFRS 12 (Disclosures of 
 interests in other entities)  
(12 May 2011) 

IFRS 13 (Fair Value 
 Measurement)  
(12 May 2011)

IAS 27 (separate Financial 
statements) (revised 2011)  
(12 May 2011) 

1 January 2014 1 

this combines the disclosure requirements for all interests in subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and unconsolidated 
structured entities into a single standard. an entity is required to provide quantitative and qualitative disclosures about 
the types of risks and financial effects associated with the entity’s interests in other entities. IFRS 12 results in increased 
disclosure requirements.

1 January 2013 

this sets out a uniform, cross-standard framework for the measurement of fair value. it requires a specific presentation of the 
techniques used to determine fair value. the application of the new standard will result in additional disclosure requirements. 

1 January 2014 1 

the existing standard IAS 27 (Consolidated and separate Financial statements) was revised in conjunction with the new 
standards IFRS 10, IFRS 11 and IFRS 12 and renamed IAS 27 (separate Financial statements) (revised 2011). the revised standard 
now only contains requirements applicable to separate financial statements. the amendment will not affect the financial 
statements.

1  these standards were adopted into european law with a different effective date than the original standards.

150

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

standard  
(issue date)

IAS 28 (investments in 
 associates and Joint 
 Ventures) (revised 2011)  
(12 May 2011) 

effective for 
financial years 
beginning  
on or after subject matter and significance

1 January 2014 1 

the existing standard IAS 28 (investments in associates) was revised in conjunction with the new standards IFRS 10, IFRS 11 
and IFRS 12 and renamed IAS 28 (investments in associates and Joint Ventures) (revised 2011). its scope is being extended 
to include accounting for joint ventures using the equity method. the previous requirements of SIC-13 (Jointly Controlled 
entities – non-Monetary Contributions by Venturers) are being incorporated into IAS 28. the change will have no significant 
influence on the financial statements.

the following are not relevant for the consolidated financial statements:  
amendments to IFRS 1 (severe Hyperinflation and removal of Fixed Dates for First-time adopters), issued on 20 December 2010, effective for financial years beginning on  
or after 1 January 2013 1.  
IFRIC 20 (stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a surface Mine), issued on 19 october 2011, required to be applied to financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2013.

1  these standards were adopted into european law with a different effective date than the original standards.

New accounting requirements not yet adopted by the EU 
( endorsement procedure)

The  IASB  and  the  IFRIC  issued  further  Standards  and  Inter-
pretations in financial year 2012 and in previous years whose appli-
cation is not yet mandatory for financial year 2012. The application 
of these IFRS s is dependent on their adoption by the EU.

standard  
(issue date)

effective for 
financial years 
beginning  
on or after subject matter and significance

IFRS 9 (Financial instruments)  
(12 november 2009) 

1 January 2015 

introduces new guidance for the classification and measurement of financial assets, with the aim of replacing IAS 39. Finan-
cial liabilities were added in 2010. the inclusion in IFRS 9 of the exposure drafts on amortised Cost and impairment and on 
Hedge accounting is being discussed. the effects on the group of the parts of IFRS 9 that have already been issued are being 
assessed. the decision on EU endorsement of the standard is yet to be made.

amendments to IFRS 9 
 (Financial instruments) 
and IFRS 7 (Financial 
 instruments: Disclosures)  
(16 December 2011)

improvements to IFRS s 
2009–2011 Cycle  
(17 May 2012) 

amendments to IFRS 10, 
IFRS 11, IFRS 12: transitional 
Provisions (28 June 2012)

1 January 2015 

announcement of the mandatory effective date and further specification of the transitional provisions. the disclosure 
requirements under IFRS 9 were added to IFRS 7 as an amendment.  

1 January 2013 

the annual improvements process relates to the following standards: IFRS 1 (First-time adoption of international Financial 
reporting standards), IAS 1 (Presentation of Financial statements), IAS 16 (Property, Plant and equipment), IAS 32 (Financial 
instruments: Presentation) and IAS 34 (interim Financial reporting). the amendments will not affect the presentation of the 
financial statements. 

1 January 2013 1 

the amendments relate to the transitional provisions in respect of the first-time application of the standards. they must 
be  applied in line with the effective dates for IFRS 10, IFRS 11 and IFRS 12.  

the following are not relevant for the consolidated financial statements:  
amendments to IFRS 1 (First-time adoption of international Financial reporting standards: government loans), issued on 13 March 2012, effective for financial years beginning  
on or after 1 January 2013.  
investment entities (amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27), issued on 31 october 2012, effective for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2014.

1  these standards are expected to be adopted into european law with a different effective date (1 January 2014) than the original standards.

5 

Currency translation

The financial statements of consolidated companies prepared 
in  foreign  currencies  are  translated  into  euros  (€)  in  accordance 
with IAS 21 using the functional currency method. The functional 
currency of foreign companies is determined by the primary eco-
nomic environment in which they mainly generate and use cash. 
Within  the  Group,  the  functional  currency  is  predominantly  the 
local  currency.  In  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  assets 
and   liabilities  are  therefore  translated  at  the  closing  rates,  whilst 
 periodic  income  and  expenses  are  generally  translated  at  the 

monthly  closing  rates.  The  resulting  currency  translation  differ-
ences are recognised in other comprehensive income. In financial 
year 2012, currency translation differences amounting to €56 mil-
lion  (previous  year:  €165 million)  were  recognised  in  other  com-
prehensive  income  (see  the  statement  of  comprehensive  income 
and statement of changes in equity).

Goodwill  arising  from  business  combinations  after  1 Janu-
ary 2005 is treated as an asset of the acquired company and there-
fore carried in the functional currency of the acquired company. 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

151

  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The exchange rates for the currencies that are significant for 

Intangible assets

the Group were as follows:

Closing rates

average rates

2011  
eur 1 =

2012  
eur 1 =

2011  
eur 1 =

2012  
eur 1 =

1.2935

1.2166

0.8355

1.2719

1.3191

1.2075

0.8156

1.2719

1.3994

1.2319

0.8711

1.3445

1.2928

1.2043

0.8116

1.2445

100.1169

113.6625

111.3393

103.4778

8.1422

8.9254

8.2180

8.5912

9.0259

9.0081

8.1458

8.6853

Country

USA

switzerland

UK

australia

Japan

China

sweden

Currency

USD

CHF

GBP

AUD

JPY

CNY

SEK

The carrying amounts of non-monetary assets recognised at 
consolidated companies operating in hyperinflationary economies 
are  generally  indexed  in  accordance  with  IAS 29  and  thus  reflect 
the current purchasing power at the balance sheet date.

In  accordance  with  IAS 21,  receivables  and  liabilities  in  the 
financial  statements  of  consolidated  companies  that  have  been 
prepared  in  local  currencies  are  translated  at  the  closing  rate  as 
at  the  balance  sheet  date.  Currency  translation  differences  are 
 recognised in other operating income and expenses in the income 
statement.  In  financial  year  2012,  income  of  €178 million  (previ-
ous  year:  €185 million)  and  expenses  of  €181 million  (previous 
year: €189 million) resulted from currency translation differences. 
In contrast, currency translation differences relating to net invest-
ments in a foreign operation are recognised in other comprehen-
sive income.

6 

Accounting policies

Uniform accounting policies are applied to the annual finan-
cial statements of the entities that have been included in the consoli-
dated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements 
are  prepared  under  the  historical  cost  convention,  except  where 
items are required to be recognised at their fair value.

Revenue and expense recognition

Deutsche Post DHL’s normal business operations consist of 
the  provision  of  logistics  services.  All  income  relating  to  normal 
business operations is recognised as revenue in the income state-
ment.  All  other  income  is  reported  as  other  operating  income. 
Revenue and other operating income is generally recognised when 
services are rendered, the amount of revenue and income can be 
reliably  measured  and,  in  all  probability,  the  economic  benefits 
from the transactions will flow to the Group. Operating expenses 
are recognised in income when the service is utilised or when the 
expenses are incurred.

Intangible assets are measured at amortised cost. Intangible 
assets  comprise  internally  generated  and  purchased  intangible 
 assets and purchased goodwill.

Internally  generated  intangible  assets  are  capitalised  at  cost 
if  it  is  probable  that  their  production  will  generate  an  inflow  of 
future  economic  benefits  and  the  costs  can  be  reliably  measured. 
In  the  Group,  this  concerns  internally  developed  software.  If  the 
criteria for capitalisation are not met, the expenses are recognised 
 immediately in income in the year in which they are incurred. In 
 addition to direct costs, the production cost of internally de velop ed 
software  includes  an  appropriate  share  of  allocable   production 
overhead  costs.  Any  borrowing  costs  incurred  for  qualifying 
 assets  are  included  in  the  production  cost.  Value  added  tax  aris-
ing in  conjunction with the acquisition or production of intangible 
 assets is included in the cost if it cannot be deducted as input tax. 
 Capitalised  software  is  amortised  using  the  straight-line  method 
over useful lives of between two and five years.

Intangible  assets  are  amortised  using  the  straight-line 
method  over  their  useful  lives.  Licences  are  amortised  over  the 
term of the licence agreement. Capitalised customer relationships 
are amortised using the straight-line method over a period of five 
to 20 years. Impairment losses are recognised in accordance with 
the principles described in the section headed Impairment. 

Intangible  assets  that  are  not  affected  by  legal,  economic, 
contractual,  or  other  factors  that  might  restrict  their  useful  lives 
are considered to have indefinite useful lives. They are not amort-
ised  but  are  tested  for  impairment  annually  or  whenever  there 
are indications of impairment. They mainly include brand names 
from business combinations. Impairment testing is carried out in 
accordance  with  the  principles  described  in  the  section  headed 
Impairment.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is carried at cost, reduced by 
accumulated  depreciation  and  valuation  allowances.  In  addition 
to  direct  costs,  production  cost  includes  an  appropriate  share  of 
allocable production overhead costs. Borrowing costs that can be 
allocated  directly  to  the  purchase,  construction  or  manufacture 
of property, plant and equipment are capitalised. Value added tax 
arising in conjunction with the acquisition or production of items 
of property, plant or equipment is included in the cost if it cannot 
be deducted as input tax. Depreciation is generally charged using 
the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives applied to the 
major asset classes are presented in the table below.

152

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

Useful lives

buildings

technical equipment and machinery

aircraft

IT systems

transport equipment and vehicle fleet

other operating and office equipment

Years 1

20 to 50

10 to 20

15 to 20

4 to 5

4 to 18

8 to 10

1  the useful lives indicated represent maximum amounts specified by the group. the actual 
useful lives may be shorter due to contractual arrangements or other specific factors such 
as time and location.

If  there  are  indications  of  impairment,  an  impairment  test 

must be carried out; see the section headed Impairment.

Impairment

At each balance sheet date, the carrying amounts of intan gible 
assets,  property,  plant  and  equipment  and  investment   property 
are reviewed for indications of impairment. If there are any such 
 indications, an impairment test must be carried out. This is done 
by determining the recoverable amount of the relevant asset and 
comparing it with the carrying amount. 

In  accordance  with  IAS 36,  the  recoverable  amount  is  the 
asset’s fair value less costs to sell or its value in use, whichever is 
higher. The value in use is the present value of the pre-tax free cash 
flows expected to be derived from the asset in future. The discount 
rate  used  is  a  pre-tax  rate  of  interest  reflecting  current  market 
conditions.  If  the  recoverable  amount  cannot  be  determined  for 
an  individual asset, the recoverable amount is determined for the 
smallest identifiable group of assets to which the asset in question 
can be allocated and which generates independent cash flows (cash 
generating  unit  –  CGU).  If  the  recoverable  amount  of  an  asset  is 
lower than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognised 
immediately in respect of the asset. If, after an impairment loss has 
been  recognised,  a  higher  recoverable  amount  is  determined  for 
the asset or the CGU at a later date, the impairment loss is  reversed 
up  to  a  carrying  amount  that  does  not  exceed  the  recoverable 
amount. The increased carrying amount attributable to the reversal 
of the impairment loss is limited to the carrying amount that would 
have been determined (net of amortisation or depreciation) if no 
impairment loss had been recognised in the past. The reversal of 
the impairment loss is recognised in the income statement. Impair-
ment losses recognised in respect of goodwill may not be reversed.
Since January 2005, goodwill has been accounted for using 
the  impairment-only  approach  in  accordance  with  IFRS 3.  This 
stipulates  that  goodwill  must  be  subsequently  measured  at  cost, 
less  any  cumulative  adjustments  from  impairment  losses.  Pur-
chased  goodwill  is  therefore  no  longer  amortised  and  instead  is 
tested for impairment annually in accordance with IAS 36, regard-
less of whether any indication of possible impairment exists, as in 
the case of intangible assets with an indefinite useful life. In add-
ition, the obligation remains to conduct an impairment test if there 

is any indication of impairment. Goodwill resulting from company 
 acquisitions is allocated to the identifiable groups of assets (CGU s 
or groups of CGU s) that are expected to benefit from the synergies 
of the acquisition. These groups represent the lowest reporting level 
at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management pur-
poses. The carrying amount of a CGU to which goodwill has been 
allocated is tested for impairment annually and whenever there is 
an indication that the unit may  be  impaired.  Where  impairment 
losses are recognised in connection with a CGU to which goodwill 
has been allocated, the existing carrying amount of the goodwill 
is reduced first. If the amount of the impairment loss exceeds the 
carrying amount of the goodwill, the difference is allocated to the 
remaining non-current assets in the CGU. 

Finance leases

A  lease  financing  transaction  is  an  agreement  in  which  the 
lessor  conveys  to  the  lessee  the  right  to  use  an  asset  for  a  speci-
fied period in return for a payment or a number of payments. In 
accordance  with  IAS 17,  beneficial  ownership  of  leased  assets  is 
 attributed to the lessee if the lessee substantially bears all risks and 
rewards  incident  to  ownership  of  the  leased  asset.  To  the  extent 
that beneficial ownership is attributable to the Group as the lessee, 
the asset is capitalised at the date on which use starts, either at fair 
value or at the present value of the minimum lease payments if this 
is less than the fair value. A lease liability in the same amount is 
recognised under non-current liabilities. The lease is subsequently 
measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest  method. 
The depreciation methods and estimated useful lives correspond to 
those of comparable purchased assets.

Operating leases

For  operating  leases,  the  Group  reports  the  leased  asset  at 
amortised  cost  as  an  asset  under  property,  plant  and  equipment 
where it is the lessor. The lease payments recognised in the period 
are shown under other operating income. Where the Group is the 
lessee,  the  lease  payments  made  are  recognised  as  lease  expense 
under  materials  expense.  Lease  expenses  and  income  are  recog-
nised using the straight-line method.

Investments in associates

Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity 
method  in  accordance  with  IAS 28  (Investments  in  Associates). 
Based  on  the  cost  of  acquisition  at  the  time  of  purchase  of  the 
 investments, the carrying amount of the investment is increased or 
reduced annually to reflect the share of earnings, dividends distrib-
uted and other changes in the equity of the associates  attributable 
to  the  investments  of  Deutsche  Post  AG  or  its  consolidated  sub-
sidiaries. The goodwill contained in the carrying amounts of the 
invest ments  is  accounted  for  in  accordance  with  IFRS 3.  Invest-
ments in companies accounted for using the equity method are im-
paired if the recoverable amount falls below the carrying amount.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

153

 
Financial instruments

HELD-TO-MATURITY FINANCIAL ASSETS

Financial instruments are assigned to this category if there is 
an intention to hold the instrument to maturity and the economic 
conditions  for  doing  so  are  met.  These  financial  instruments  are 
non-derivative financial assets that are measured at amortised cost 
using the effective interest method.

LOANS AND RECEIVABLES

These are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or deter-
minable payments that are not quoted on an active market.  Unless 
held  for  trading,  they  are  recognised  at  cost  or  amortised  cost  at 
the  balance  sheet  date.  The  carrying  amounts  of  money  market 
re ceivables  correspond  approximately  to  their  fair  values  due  to 
their short maturity. Loans and receivables are considered current 
assets  if  they  mature  not  more  than  12  months  after  the  balance 
sheet date; otherwise, they are recognised as non-current assets. If 
the  recoverability  of  receivables  is  in  doubt,  they  are  recognised 
at amort ised cost, less appropriate specific or collective valuation 
 allowances.  A  write-down  on  trade  receivables  is  recognised  if 
there are objective indications that the amount of the outstanding 
receivable cannot be collected in full. The write-down is recognised 
in the income statement via a valuation account.

FINANCIAL ASSETS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS

All financial instruments held for trading and derivatives that 
do not satisfy the criteria for hedge accounting are assigned to this 
category.  They  are  generally  measured  at  fair  value.  All  changes 
in  fair  value  are  recognised  in  income.  All  financial  instruments 
in this category are accounted for at the trade date. Assets in this 
category are recognised as current assets if they are either held for 
trading or will likely be realised within 12 months of the balance 
sheet date.

To  avoid  variations  in  earnings  resulting  from  changes  in 
the fair  value  of  derivative  financial  instruments,  hedge  account-
ing is applied where possible and economically useful. Gains and 
losses from the derivative and the related hedged item are recog-
nised  in  income  simultaneously.  Depending  on  the  hedged  item 
and  the  risk  to  be  hedged,  the  Group  uses  fair  value  hedges  and 
cash flow hedges.

A  financial  instrument  is  any  contract  that  gives  rise  to 
a  finan cial  asset  of  one  entity  and  a  financial  liability  or  equity 
 instrument  of  another  entity.  Financial  assets  include  in  particu-
lar  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  trade  receivables,  originated  loans 
and   receivables,  and  derivative  financial  assets  held  for  trading. 
 Financial liabilities include contractual obligations to deliver cash 
or another financial asset to another entity. These mainly comprise 
trade  payables,  liabilities  to  banks,  liabilities  arising  from  bonds 
and finance leases, and derivative financial liabilities.

Fair value option

The Group applied the fair value option for the first time for 
financial  year  2006.  Under  this  option,  financial  assets  or  finan-
cial liabilities may be measured at fair value through profit or loss 
on  initial  recognition  if  this  eliminates  or  significantly  reduces  a 
measurement or recognition inconsistency (accounting mismatch). 
The Group makes use of the option in order to avoid accounting 
mismatches.

Financial assets

Financial assets are accounted for in accordance with the pro-
visions  of  IAS 39,  which  distinguishes  between  four  categories  of 
financial instruments.

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE FINANCIAL ASSETS

These  financial  instruments  are  non-derivative  financial 
 assets and are carried at their fair value, where this can be meas-
ured reliably. If a fair value cannot be determined, they are carried 
at cost. Changes in fair value between reporting dates are generally 
recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income  (revaluation  reserve). 
The reserve is reversed to income either upon disposal or if the fair 
value  falls  below  cost  more  than  temporarily.  If,  at  a  subsequent 
balance sheet date, the fair value of a debt instrument has increased 
objectively as a result of events occurring after the impairment loss 
was  recognised,  the  impairment  loss  is  reversed  in  the  appropri-
ate  amount.  Impairment  losses  recognised  in  respect  of  equity 
 instruments may not be reversed to income. If equity instruments 
are  recognised  at  fair  value,  any  reversals  must  be  recognised  in 
other  comprehensive  income.  No  reversals  may  be  made  in  the 
case of equity instruments that were recognised at cost. Available-
for-sale  financial  instruments  are  allocated  to  non-current  assets 
unless the intention is to dispose of them within 12 months of the 
 balance  sheet  date.  In  particular,  investments  in  unconsolidated 
subsidiaries,  marketable  securities  and  other  equity  investments 
are  reported in this category.

154

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

Regular  way  purchases  and  sales  of  financial  assets  are  rec-
ognised  at  the  settlement  date,  with  the  exception  of  held-for-
trading  instruments,  particularly  derivatives.  A  financial  asset  is 
derecognised if the rights to receive the cash flows from the asset 
have  expired. Upon transfer of a financial asset, a review is made 
under the requirements of IAS 39 governing disposal as to whether 
the asset should be derecognised. A disposal gain / loss arises upon 
disposal.  The  remeasurement  gains / losses  recognised  in  other 
comprehensive income in prior periods must be reversed as at the 
disposal date. Financial liabilities are derecognised if the payment 
obligations arising from them have expired.

Investment property

In accordance with IAS 40, investment property is property 
held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation or both, rather than 
for  use  in  the  supply  of  services,  for  administrative  purposes,  or 
for sale in the normal course of the company’s business. It is meas-
ured  in  accordance  with  the  cost  model.  Depreciable  investment 
property is depreciated over a period of between five and 50 years 
using  the  straight-line  method.  The  fair  value  is  determined  on 
the basis of expert opinions. Impairment losses are recognised in 
accord ance with the principles described under the section headed 
Impairment.

Inventories

Inventories  are  assets  that  are  held  for  sale  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  business,  are  in  the  process  of  production,  or  are  con-
sumed  in  the  production  process  or  in  the  rendering  of  services. 
They are measured at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Valu-
ation  allowances  are  charged  for  obsolete  inventories  and  slow-
moving goods.

Government grants

In  accordance  with  IAS 20,  government  grants  are  recog-
nised  at  their  fair  value  only  when  there  is  reasonable  assurance 
that  the  conditions  attaching  to  them  will  be  complied  with  and 
that the grants will be received. The grants are reported in the in-
come statement and are generally recognised as income over the 
periods  in  which  the  costs  they  are  intended  to  compensate  are 
incurred. Where the grants relate to the purchase or production of 
assets, they are reported as deferred income and recognised in the 
income statement over the useful lives of the assets.

The  carrying  amounts  of  financial  assets  not  carried  at  fair 
value  through  profit  or  loss  are  tested  for  impairment  at  each 
 balance  sheet  date  and  whenever  there  are  indications  of  impair-
ment. The amount of any impairment loss is determined by com-
paring the carrying amount and the fair value. If there are objective 
indications of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in the 
income statement under other operating expenses or net financial 
income / net finance costs. Impairment losses are reversed if there 
are  objective  reasons  arising  after  the  balance  sheet  date  indicat-
ing that the reasons for impairment no longer exist. The increased 
 carrying amount resulting from the reversal of the impairment loss 
may not exceed the carrying amount that would have been deter-
mined (net of amortisation or depreciation) if the impairment loss 
had not been recognised. Impairment losses are recognised within 
the  Group  if  the  debtor  is  experiencing  significant  financial  diffi-
culties, it is highly probable that the debtor will be the subject of 
bankruptcy proceedings, there are material changes in the issuer’s 
technological, economic, legal or market environment, or the fair 
value of a financial instrument falls below its amortised cost for a 
prolonged period. 

A fair value hedge hedges the fair value of recognised assets 
and liabilities. Changes in the fair value of both the derivatives and 
the hedged item are recognised in income simultaneously.

A cash flow hedge hedges the fluctuations in future cash flows 
from  recognised  assets  and  liabilities  (in  the  case  of  interest  rate 
risks),  highly  probable  forecast  transactions  as  well  as  unrecog-
nised firm commitments that entail a currency risk. The effective 
portion of a cash flow hedge is recognised in the hedging reserve in 
equity. Ineffective portions resulting from changes in the fair value 
of the hedging instrument are recognised directly in income. The 
gains and losses generated by the hedging transactions are initially 
recognised  in  equity  and  are  then  reclassified  to  profit  or  loss  in 
the period in which the asset acquired or liability assumed affects 
profit or loss. If a hedge of a firm commitment subsequently results 
in  the  recognition  of  a  non-financial  asset,  the  gains  and  losses 
recognised  directly  in  equity  are  included  in  the  initial  carrying 
amount of the asset (basis adjustment). 

Net investment hedges in foreign entities are treated in the 
same way as cash flow hedges. The gain or loss from the effective 
portion of the hedge is recognised in other comprehensive income, 
whilst the gain or loss attributable to the ineffective portion is rec-
ognised directly in income. The gains or losses recognised in other 
comprehensive income remain there until the disposal or partial 
disposal  of  the  net  investment.  Detailed  information  on  hedging 
transactions can be found in 

 note 47.2.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

155

Assets held for sale and liabilities associated with assets  
held for sale

Assets held for sale are assets available for sale in their pres-
ent condition and whose sale is highly probable. The sale must be 
expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one 
year of the date of classification. Assets held for sale may consist of 
individual  non-current  assets,  groups  of  assets  (disposal  groups), 
components of an entity or a subsidiary acquired exclusively for re-
sale (discontinued operations). Liabilities intended to be disposed 
of together with the assets in a single transaction form part of the 
disposal  group  or  discontinued  operation  and  are  also  reported 
separately as liabilities associated with assets held for sale. Assets 
held for sale are no longer depreciated or amortised, but are recog-
nised at the lower of their fair value less costs to sell and the carry-
ing amount. Gains and losses arising from the remeasurement of 
individual non-current assets or disposal groups classified as held 
for sale are reported in profit or loss from continuing operations 
until the final date of disposal. Gains and losses arising from the 
measurement  at  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell  of  discontinued  oper-
ations classified as held for sale are reported in profit or loss from 
discontinued operations. This also applies to the profit or loss from 
operations and the gain or loss on disposal of these components 
of an entity.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash, demand deposits 
and other short-term liquid financial assets with an original matur-
ity of up to three months and are carried at their principal amount. 
Overdraft  facilities  used  are  recognised  in  the  balance  sheet  as 
amounts due to banks.

Non-controlling interests

Non-controlling  interests  are  the  proportionate  minority 
interests  in  the  equity  of  subsidiaries  and  are  recognised  at  their 
carrying amount. If an interest is acquired from, or sold to, other 
shareholders without this impacting the existing control relation-
ship,  this  is  presented  as  an  equity  transaction.  The  difference 
 between  the  proportionate  net  assets  acquired  from,  or  sold  to, 
another  shareholder / other  shareholders  and  the  purchase  price 
is recognised in other comprehensive income. If non-controlling 
 interests are increased by the proportionate net assets, no goodwill 
is allocated to the proportionate net assets.

Share-based payment

Assumptions regarding the price of Deutsche Post AG’s shares 
and  assumptions  regarding  employee  fluctuation  are  taken  into 
account  when  measuring  the  value  of  share-based  payments  for 
executives (Share Matching Scheme, SMS), which are required to 
be accounted for as equity-settled share-based payments pursuant 
to  IFRS 2.  Assumptions  are  also  made  regarding  the  conversion 
behaviour  of  executives  with  respect  to  their  relevant  bonus  por-
tion. Share-based payment arrangements are entered into each year, 
with 1 January of the respective year being the grant date for that 
year’s tranche. All assumptions are reviewed on a quarterly basis. 
The resulting staff costs are recognised pro rata in profit or loss to 
reflect  the  services  rendered  as  consideration  during  the  vesting 
period (lock-up period). Obligations that in future are settled by 
issuing shares in Deutsche Post AG and do not provide the execu-
tives with a choice of settlement are recognised in equity pursuant 
to IFRS 2.

Stock appreciation rights issued to members of the Board of 
Management and executives are measured on the basis of an  option 
pricing model in accordance with IFRS 2. The stock appreciation 
rights are measured on each reporting date and on the settle ment 
date. The amount determined for stock appreciation rights that will 
probably be exercised is recognised pro rata in income under staff 
costs to reflect the services rendered as consideration during the 
vesting period (lock-up period). A provision is recognised for the 
same amount.

Pension obligations

In a number of countries, the Group maintains defined bene-
fit  pension  plans  based  on  the  pensionable  compensation  and 
length of service of employees. These pension plans are funded via 
external plan assets and provisions for pensions and similar obliga-
tions.  Pension  obligations  are  measured  using  the  projected  unit 
credit method prescribed by IAS 19 for defined benefit plans. This 
involves making certain actuarial assumptions. In accordance with 
the  version  of  IAS 19.92  currently  applicable,  actuarial  gains  and 
losses are recognised only to the extent that they exceed the greater 
of 10 % of the present value of the obligations or of the fair value of 
plan assets (10 % corridor). The excess is allocated over the  expected 
remaining working lives of the active employees and  recognised in 
income. The interest cost and expected return on plan assets com-
ponents of the  pension expense  are  reported   under net financial 
income / net finance costs, the other components  under staff costs.

156

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

The Group also contributes to a number of defined contribu-
tion pension plans. Contributions to these pension plans are recog-
nised as staff costs.

In  addition,  the  Group  participates  in  a  number  of  multi- 
employer pension plans. The relevant institutions do not provide 
the  participating  companies  with  sufficient  information  which 
 allows the allocation of the respective proportionate share of the 
defined  benefit  obligation,  plan  assets  and  costs.  The  plans  are 
therefore accounted for as if they were defined contribution plans.

Under the Gesetz zur Neuordnung der Postbeamtenversorgungs-
kasse (PVKNeuG – Act for the Reorganisation of the Postal Civil 
Servant Pension Fund), which entered into force on 1 January 2013, 
the  Bundesanstalt  für  Post  und  Telekommunikation  (BAnstPT – 
Federal Posts and Telecommunications Agency) as legal successor 
assumes  the  BPS-PT’s  rights  and  obligations  and  undertakes  the 
tasks  of  the  postal  civil  servant  pension  fund.  There  will  be  no 
change to the requirements relating to the contribution payable in 
accord ance with section 16 of the PostPersRG.

PENSION PLANS FOR CIVIL SERVANT EMPLOYEES IN GERMANY

Deutsche Post AG pays contributions to defined contribution 

plans for civil servants in accordance with statutory provisions.

Under  the  provisions  of  the  Gesetz  zum  Personalrecht  der 
Beschäftigten  der  früheren  Deutschen  Bundespost  (PostPersRG – 
Deutsche  Bundespost  Former  Employees  Act),  introduced  as 
article  4  of  the  Gesetz  zur  Neuordnung  des  Postwesens  und  der 
Tele kommunikation  (PTNeuOG  –  German  Posts  and  Tele com-
munications  Reorganisation  Act),  Deutsche  Post  AG  provides 
benefit  and   assistance  payments  through  a  special  pension  fund 
for  postal  civil  servants  (Postbeamtenversorgungskasse)  operated 
jointly,  since  early  2001,  by  the  Deutsche  Bundespost  successor 
companies,  the  Bundes-Pensions-Service  für  Post  und  Telekom-
munikation  e. V.  (BPS-PT),  to  retired  employees  or  their  surviv-
ing dependants who are entitled to benefits on the basis of a civil 
service appointment. The amount of Deutsche Post AG’s payment 
 obligations  is  governed  by  section  16  of  the   PostPersRG.  Since 
2000, this Act has obliged Deutsche Post AG to pay into the postal 
civil  servant  pension  fund  an  annual  contribution  of  33 %  of  the 
gross  compensation  of  its  active  civil  servants  and  the  notional 
gross compensation of civil servants on leave of absence who are 
eligible for a pension. 

In the year under review, expenses resulting from Deutsche 
Post  AG’s  contributions  to  the  BPS-PT  amounted  to  €542 million 
(previous year: €531 million). 

Under section 16 of the PostPersRG, the federal government 
takes appropriate measures to make good the difference between 
the current payment obligations of the postal civil servant pension 
fund on the one hand, and the funding companies’ current contri-
butions or other return on assets on the other, and guarantees that 
the  postal  civil  servant  pension  fund  is  able  at  all  times  to  meet 
the obligations it has assumed in respect of its funding companies. 
 Insofar  as  the  federal  government  makes  payments  to  the  postal 
civil  servant  pension  fund  under  the  terms  of  this  guarantee,  it 
 cannot claim reimbursement from Deutsche Post AG.

PENSION PLANS FOR HOURLY WORkERS AND SALARIED 
EMPLOYEES

The obligations under defined benefit pension plans for the 
Group’s  hourly  workers  and  salaried  employees  relate  primar-
ily to pension obligations in Germany and pension or lump-sum 
obligations  in  the  UK,  the  Netherlands,  Switzerland  and  the  USA. 
There are various commitments to individual groups of employees. 
The commitments usually depend on length of service and either 
 final salary (e. g., the UK) or the amount of contributions paid (e. g., 
 Switzerland), or a fixed-amount benefit system (e. g., Germany). 

Some  of  the  defined  benefit  plans  have  been  closed  to  new 
entrants  (e. g.,  in  the  UK)  or  additionally  to  further   increases  in 
benefits for existing beneficiaries (e. g., in the USA); in these cases, 
there  has  been  a  switch  to  defined  contribution  plans.   Financial 
 note 41. 
information on the defined benefit plans can be found in 
In 2012, employer contributions totalling €238 million were 
paid in respect of defined contribution plans for the Group’s hourly 
workers and salaried employees (previous year: €198 million).

Other provisions

Other provisions are recognised for all legal or constructive 
obligations to third parties existing at the balance sheet date that 
have  arisen  as  a  result  of  past  events,  that  are  expected  to  result 
in an outflow of future economic benefits and whose amount can 
be measured reliably. They represent uncertain obligations that are 
carried  at  the  best  estimate  of  the  expenditure  required  to  settle 
the obligation. Provisions with more than one year to maturity are 
discounted at market rates of interest that reflect the risk, region 
and time to settlement of the obligation. The discount rates used in 
the financial year were between 0.25 % and 9.25 % (previous year: 
0.5 % to 10.75 %). The effects arising from changes in interest rates 
are recognised in net financial income / net finance cost.

Provisions for restructurings are only established in accord-
ance with the aforementioned criteria for recognition if a detailed, 
formal restructuring plan has been drawn up and communicated 
to those affected.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

157

The  technical  reserves  (insurance)  consist  mainly  of  out-
standing loss reserves and IBNR (incurred but not reported claims) 
reserves. Outstanding loss reserves represent estimates of ultimate 
obligations in respect of actual claims or known incidents expected 
to give rise to claims, which have been reported to the company 
but which have yet to be finalised and presented for payment. Out-
standing  loss  reserves  are  based  on  individual  claim  valuations 
carried out by the company or its ceding insurers. IBNR reserves 
represent estimates of ultimate obligations in respect of incidents 
taking place on or before the balance sheet date that have not been 
reported to the company but will nonetheless give rise to claims 
in  the  future.  Such  reserves  also  include  provisions  for  potential 
errors  in  settling  outstanding  loss  reserves. The  company  carries 
out  its  own  assessment  of  ultimate  loss  liabilities  using  actuarial 
methods and also commissions an independent actuarial study of 
these each year in order to verify the reasonableness of its estimates.

Financial liabilities

On  initial  recognition,  financial  liabilities  are  carried  at  fair 
value less transaction costs. The price determined on a price- efficient 
and liquid market or a fair value determined using the treasury risk 
management system deployed within the Group is taken as the fair 
value. In subsequent periods the financial  liabilities are measured at 
amortised cost. Any differences between the amount received and 
the amount repayable are recognised in  income over the term of 
the loan using the effective interest method.

CONVERTIBLE BOND ON DEUTSCHE POST AG SHARES

The  convertible  bond  on  Deutsche  Post  AG  shares  is  split 
into an equity and a debt component, in line with the contractual 
arrange ments. The debt component, less the transaction costs, is 
reported under financial liabilities (bonds), with interest added up 
to the issue amount over the term of the bond using the  effective 
 interest  method  (unwinding  of  discount).  The  value  of  the  call 
 option,  which   allows  Deutsche  Post AG  to  redeem  the  bond 
early if a specified share price is reached, is attributed to the debt 
 component in accordance with IAS 32.31. The conversion right is 
classified as an equity derivative and is reported in capital reserves. 
The  carrying amount is calculated by assigning to the conversion 
right  the  residual  value  that  results  from  deducting  the  amount 
calculated separately for the debt component from the fair value of 
the instrument as a whole. The transaction costs are deducted on a 
proportionate basis.

Liabilities

Trade payables and other liabilities are carried at amortised 
cost.  The  fair  value  of  the  liabilities  corresponds  more  or  less  to 
their carrying amount.

Deferred taxes

In accordance with IAS 12, deferred taxes are recognised for 
temporary differences between the carrying amounts in the IFRS 
financial  statements  and  the  tax  accounts  of  the  individual  en-
tities. Deferred tax assets also include tax reduction claims which 
arise from the expected future utilisation of existing tax loss carry-
forwards and which are likely to be realised. In compliance with 
IAS 12.24 (b) and IAS 12.15 (b), deferred tax assets or liabilities were 
only  recognised  for  temporary  differences  between  the  carrying 
amounts in the IFRS financial statements and in the tax accounts of 
Deutsche Post AG where the differences arose after 1 January 1995. 
No deferred tax assets or liabilities are recognised for temporary 
differences  resulting  from  initial  differences  in  the  opening  tax 
 accounts of Deutsche Post AG as at 1 January 1995. Further  details 
on  deferred  taxes  from  tax  loss  carryforwards  can  be  found  in 

 note 29.

In accordance with IAS 12, deferred tax assets and liabilities 
are calculated using the tax rates applicable in the individual coun-
tries at the balance sheet date or announced for the time when the 
deferred tax assets and liabilities are realised. The tax rate of 29.8 % 
(unchanged  from  the  previous  year)  applied  to  German  Group 
companies  comprises  the  corporation  tax  rate  plus  the  solidarity 
surcharge, as well as a municipal trade tax rate that is calculated 
as  the  average  of  the  different  municipal  trade  tax  rates.  Foreign 
Group companies use their individual income tax rates to calculate 
deferred tax items. The income tax rates applied for foreign compa-
nies amount to up to 41 % (previous year: 41 %).

Income taxes

Income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amounts 
for which repayments from or payments to the tax authorities are 
expected to be received or made.

Contingent liabilities

Contingent  liabilities  represent  possible  obligations  whose 
existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occur-
rence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the 
control of the enterprise. Contingent liabilities also include certain 
obligations that will probably not lead to an outflow of resources 
embodying economic benefits, or where the amount of the outflow 
of  resources  embodying  economic  benefits  cannot  be  measured 
with  sufficient  reliability.  In  accordance  with  IAS 37,  contingent 
 liabilities are not recognised as liabilities; 

 note 48.

158

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Basis of preparation

The  Group  has  operating  activities  around  the  globe  and 
is  subject  to  local  tax  laws.  Management  can  exercise  judgement 
when calculating the amounts of current and deferred taxes in the 
relevant countries. Although management believes that it has made 
a  reasonable  estimate  relating  to  tax  matters  that  are  inherently 
uncertain,  there  can  be  no  guarantee  that  the  actual  outcome  of 
these uncertain tax matters will correspond exactly to the original 
estimate made. Any difference between actual events and the esti-
mate made could have an effect on tax liabilities and deferred taxes 
in the period in which the matter is finally decided. The amount 
 recognised for deferred tax assets could be reduced if the estimates 
of planned taxable income or the tax benefits achievable as a result 
of tax planning strategies are revised downwards, or in the event 
that changes to current tax laws restrict the extent to which future 
tax benefits can be realised.

Goodwill is  regularly  reported in the  Group’s balance  sheet 
as a consequence of business combinations. When an acquisition 
is initially recognised in the consolidated financial statements, all 
identifiable  assets,  liabilities  and  contingent  liabilities  are  meas-
ured at their fair values at the date of acquisition. One of the most 
important estimates this requires is the determination of the fair 
values of these assets and liabilities at the date of acquisition. Land, 
buildings and office equipment are generally valued by independ-
ent  experts,  whilst  securities  for  which  there  is  an  active  market 
are  recognised  at  the  quoted  exchange  price.  If  intangible  assets 
are identified in the course of an acquisition, their measurement 
can  be  based  on  the  opinion  of  an  independent  external  expert 
valuer, depending on the type of intangible asset and the complex-
ity involved in determining its fair value. The independent expert 
determines  the  fair  value  using  appropriate  valuation  techniques, 
normally based on expected future cash flows. In addition to the 
assumptions  about  the  development  of  future  cash  flows,  these 
valuations are also significantly affected by the discount rates used.
Impairment  testing  for  goodwill  is  based  on  assumptions 
with  respect  to  the  future.  The  Group  carries  out  these  tests 
 annually  and  also  whenever  there  are  indications  that  goodwill 
has  become   impaired.  The  recoverable  amount  of  the  CGU  must 
then be calculated. This amount is the higher of fair value less costs 
to sell and value in use. Determining value in use requires adjust-
ments and  estimates to be made with respect to forecasted future 
cash  flows  and  the  discount  rate  applied.  Although  management 
believes that the assumptions made for the purpose of calculating 
the  recoverable  amount  are  appropriate,  possible  unforeseeable 
changes in these assumptions – e. g., a reduction in the EBIT mar-
gin, an increase in the cost of capital or a decline in the long-term 
growth rate – could result in an impairment loss that could nega-
tively affect the Group’s net assets, financial position and results of 
operations.

7 

Exercise of judgement in applying the accounting policies

The  preparation  of  IFRS-compliant  consolidated  financial 
statements  requires  the  exercise  of  judgement  by  management. 
All  estimates  are  reassessed  on  an  ongoing  basis  and  are  based 
on   historical  experience  and  expectations  with  regard  to  future 
events that appear reasonable under the given circumstances. For 
example, this applies to assets held for sale. In this case, it must be 
 determined whether the assets are available for sale in their present 
condition and whether their sale is highly probable. If this is the 
case, the assets and the associated liabilities are reported and meas-
ured as assets held for sale and liabilities associated with  assets held 
for sale.

Estimates and assessments made by management

The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements 
in  accordance  with  IFRS s  requires  management  to  make  certain 
 assumptions and estimates that may affect the amounts of the  assets 
and liabilities included in the balance sheet, the amounts of income 
and expenses, and the disclosures relating to contingent  liabilities. 
Examples of the main areas where assumptions, estimates and the 
exercise  of  management  judgement  occur  are  the  recognition  of 
provisions for pensions and similar obligations, the calculation of 
discounted cash flows for impairment testing and purchase price 
allocations, taxes and legal proceedings.

When  determining  the  provisions  for  pensions  and   similar 
 obligations, the discount rate used is an important factor that has 
to be  estimated.  The  database  used  previously  to   calculate  the 
 discount  rate  is  no  longer  considered  to  represent  an   adequate 
 basis because significantly fewer high-quality corporate bonds with 
matching   maturities  were  included  due  to  rating  downgrades. 
To calculate  the  discount  rate  for  the  euro  zone,  both  the 
 selection criteria applicable to the database and the  extrapolation 
procedure  have  therefore  been  adjusted.  In  the  future,  the  data-
base will include high-quality corporate bonds with an AA –  rating 
from  at  least  one  of  the  three  major  rating  agencies.  Overall,  as 
at 31  December 2012,  the  change  led  to  a  0.45  percentage  point 
 increase in the discount rate applied for the measurement of pen-
sion  obligations  in  the  euro  zone.  A  decrease  of  0.45  percentage 
points in the discount rate would result in an increase of around 
€600 million in pension obligations in the euro zone and of around 
€14 million  in  the  following  year’s  expense  (excluding  remeasure-
ments).  An   increase  or  a   reduction  of  1  percentage  point  in  the 
discount rate used would generally result in a reduction or increase 
of  around  €1,050 million  in  the  present  value  of  the  total  obliga-
tions of pension plans in Germany at the end of the year and in a 
reduction or increase of around €31 million in the following year’s 
 expense (excluding remeasurements). For Group companies in the 
UK, such a change in the discount rate would  result in a decrease or 
increase of around €630 million in the pres ent value of the  total 
obligation at the end of the year and in a  decrease or  increase of 
around  €41 million  in  the  following  year’s  expense  (excluding 
remeasurements).

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

159

Pending legal proceedings in which the Group is involved are 
 note 50.  The  outcome  of  these  proceedings  could 
disclosed  in 
have  a  significant  effect  on  the  net  assets,  financial  position  and 
results of operations of the Group. Management regularly analyses 
the  information  currently  available  about  these  proceedings  and 
recognises provisions for probable obligations including estimated 
legal costs. Internal and external legal advisers participate in mak-
ing  this  assessment.  In  deciding  on  the  necessity  for  a  provision, 
management takes into account the probability of an unfavourable 
outcome  and  whether  the  amount  of  the  obligation  can  be  esti-
mated with sufficient reliability. The fact that an action has been 
launched or a claim asserted against the Group, or that a legal dis-
pute  has  been  disclosed  in  the  Notes,  does  not  necessarily  mean 
that a provision is recognised for the associated risk.

All  assumptions  and  estimates  are  based  on  the  circum-
stances  prevailing  and  assessments  made  at  the  balance  sheet 
date. For the purpose of estimating the future development of the 
business, a realistic assessment was also made at that date of the 
economic environ ment likely to apply in the future to the different 
sectors and regions in which the Group operates. In the event of 
developments  in  this  general  environment  that  diverge  from  the 
assumptions  made,  the  actual  amounts  may  differ  from  the  esti-
mated amounts. In such cases, the assumptions made and, where 
necessary,  the  carrying  amounts  of  the  relevant  assets  and  liabil-
ities, are adjusted accordingly.

At the date of preparation of the consolidated financial state-
ments,  there  is  no  indication  that  any  significant  change  in  the 
assumptions and estimates made will be required, so that on the 
basis of the information currently available it is not expected that 
there will be any significant adjustments in financial year 2013 to 
the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities recognised in the 
financial statements.

8 

Consolidation methods

The consolidated financial statements are based on the IFRS 
financial statements of Deutsche Post AG and the subsidiaries, joint 
ventures  and  associates  included  in  the  consolidated  financial 
statements, prepared in accordance with uniform accounting pol-
icies as at 31 December 2012 and audited by independent auditors.
Acquisition  accounting  for  subsidiaries  included  in  the 
consolidated  financial  statements  uses  the  purchase  method  of 
accounting.  The  cost  of  the  acquisition  corresponds  to  the  fair 
value of the assets given up, the equity instruments issued and the 
 liabilities incurred or assumed at the transaction date. Acquisition-
related costs are recognised as expenses. Contingent consideration 
is recognised at fair value at the date of initial consolidation.

Joint  ventures  are  proportionately  consolidated  in  accord-
ance  with  IAS 31.  Assets  and  liabilities,  as  well  as  income  and 
 expenses, of jointly controlled companies are included in the con-
solidated  financial statements in proportion to the interest held in 
these companies. Proportionate acquisition accounting as well as 
recognition and measurement of goodwill use the same methods 
as applied to the consolidation of subsidiaries. 

Companies  on  which  the  parent  can  exercise  significant 
 influence  (associates)  are  accounted  for  in  accordance  with  the 
 equity  method  using  the  purchase  method  of  accounting.  Any 
goodwill is recognised under investments in associates. 

In  the  case  of  step  acquisitions,  the  equity  portion  previ-
ously held is remeasured at the fair value applicable on the date of 
 acquisition and the resulting gain or loss recognised in profit or loss.
Intra-group revenue, other operating income, and expenses 
as  well  as  receivables,  liabilities  and  provisions  between  consoli-
dated  companies  are  eliminated.  Intercompany  profits  or  losses 
from  intra-group  deliveries  and  services  not  realised  by  sale  to 
third parties are eliminated.

160

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Segment reporting

segMent rePorting

9 

Segment reporting

Segments by division

€ m

1 Jan. to 31 Dec.

2011

MAIL

2012

 GLOBAL  FOR WARDING, 
FREIGHT

EXPRESS

SUPPLY CHAIN

Corporate Center /  
other

Consolidation 

group

2011 1

2012

2011 1

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011 1

2012

2011

2012

external revenue

13,877 

13,874 

11,309 

12,378 

14,459 

14,980 

13,119 

14,229 

internal revenue

96 

98 

382 

400 

659 

686 

104 

111 

total revenue

13,973 

13,972 

11,691 

12,778 

15,118 

15,666 

13,223 

14,340 

65 

1,195 

1,260 

51 

0 

0 

52,829 

55,512

1,152 

–2,436 

–2,447 

0 

0

1,203 

–2,436 

–2,447 

52,829 

55,512

Profit / loss from 
operating activities 
(EBIT)

net income 
from  associates

1,107 

1,051 

916 

1,108 

440 

512 

362 

416 

–389 

– 420 

1 

0 

0 

0 

1 

2 

0 

0 

58 

0 

0 

0 

–2 

2,436 

2,665

0 

60 

2

segment assets

4,325 

4,433 

8,587 

8,684 

8,007 

7,951 

6,314 

6,264 

3,167 

1,322 

–254 

–215 

30,146 

28,439

investments  
in associates

0 

0 

28 

28 

16 

18 

0 

0 

segment liabilities  2

2,919 

2,505 

2,684 

2,547 

2,959 

2,950 

2,924 

2,825 

Capex

433 

332 

601 

597 

136 

150 

252 

300 

323 

31 

333 

1 

328 

6 

382 

18 

104 

0 

111 

0 

274 

13 

286 

2 

Depreciation 
and amortisation

impairment losses

total depreciation, 
amortisation and 
impairment losses

other non-cash 
expenses

354 

334 

334 

400 

104 

111 

287 

288 

195 

206 

321 

329 

189 

279 

108 

79 

115 

129 

40 

58 

employees 3

147,434 

146,923 

85,496 

84,623 

43,451 

43,590 

133,615 

140,193 

13,352 

12,958 

0 

820 

294 

195 

0 

0 

797 

318 

199 

7 

0 

0 

44 

46

–186 

–120 

12,120 

11,504

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1,716 

1,697

1,224 

1,311

50 

28

1,274 

1,339

773 

874

0  423,348  428,287

Information about geographical areas

€ m

1 Jan. to 31 Dec.

external revenue

non-current assets

Capex

germany

europe  
(excluding germany)

americas

asia Pacific

other regions

group

2011

2012

2011

2012

16,743 

16,825 

17,475 

17,840 

4,465 

1,057 

4,759 

7,313 

7,228 

979 

248 

259 

2011

8,808 

3,376 

203 

2012

9,819 

3,408 

259 

2011

7,611 

3,361 

152 

2012

8,619 

3,227 

160 

2011

2,192 

329 

56 

2012

2011

2012

2,409 

52,829 

55,512

332 

18,844 

18,954

40 

1,716 

1,697

1  Prior-year figures adjusted 
2  including non-interest-bearing provisions.
3  average FTE s.

 segment reporting disclosures.

9.1 

Segment reporting disclosures

Deutsche  Post  DHL  reports  four  operating  segments;  these 
are  managed  independently  by  the  responsible  segment  manage-
ment  bodies  in  line  with  the  products  and  services  offered  and 
the brands, distribution channels and customer profiles involved. 
Components of the entity are defined as a segment on the basis of 
the existence of segment managers with bottom-line responsibility 
who report directly to Deutsche Post DHL’s top management. 

External  revenue  is  the  revenue  generated  by  the  divisions 
from  non-Group  third  parties.  Internal  revenue  is  revenue  gener-
ated with other divisions. If comparable external market prices exist 
for services or products offered internally within the Group, these 
market prices or market-oriented prices are used as transfer prices 
(arm’s length principle). The transfer prices for services for which 
no external market exists are generally based on incremental costs.
The  expenses  for  IT  services  provided  in  the  IT  service 
 centres are allocated to the divisions by cause. The additional costs 

resulting  from  Deutsche  Post  AG’s  universal  postal  service  obli-
gation (nationwide retail outlet network, delivery every working 
day),  and  from  its  obligation  to  assume  the  compensation  struc-
ture as the legal successor to Deutsche Bundespost, are allocated 
to the MAIL division.

In  keeping  with  internal  reporting,  capital  expenditure 
(capex) is disclosed. Additions to intangible assets net of goodwill 
and  to  property,  plant  and  equipment  are  reported  in  the  capex 
figure. Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses relate to 
the segment assets allocated to the individual divisions. Other non-
cash expenses relate primarily to expenses from the recognition of 
provisions.

Reflecting the Group’s predominant organisational structure, 
the primary reporting format is based on the divisions. The Group 
distinguishes between the following divisions:

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

161

  
9.2 

Segments by division

SUPPLY CHAIN

MAIL

In addition to the transport and delivery of written commu-
nications, the MAIL division is positioned as an end-to-end service 
provider for the management of written communications. The div-
ision comprises the following business units: Mail Communication, 
Dialogue Marketing, Press Services, Value-Added Services, Parcel 
Germany, Global Mail, Retail Outlets and the Pension Service. 

The  division  specialises  in  contract  logistics  and  provides 
warehousing and transport services as well as value-added services 
along the entire supply chain in the different sectors. The division 
also  offers  end-to-end  solutions  for  corporate  information  and 
communications  management.  The  division’s  business  units  are 
Supply Chain and Williams Lea.

In addition to the reportable segments given above, segment 

reporting comprises the following categories:

EXPRESS

Corporate Center / Other

The EXPRESS division offers international and domestic cour-
ier  and  express  services  to  business  and  private  customers.  The 
 division comprises the Express Europe, Express Americas, Express 
Asia Pacific and Express MEA business units. At the beginning of 
January 2012,  the  Czech  less-than-truckload  and  part-truckload 
business  of  PPL  CZ  s.r.o.  was  transferred  from  the  EXPRESS  seg-
ment to the GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT segment. The trans-
fer was made to enable the two divisions to concentrate on their 
respective core competencies. The prior-year figures were adjusted 
accordingly.

Corporate Center / Other comprises Global Business Services 
(GBS),  the  Corporate  Center,  non-operating  activities  and  other 
business activities. The profit / loss generated by GBS is allocated to 
the operating segments, whilst its assets and liabilities remain with 
GBS (asymmetrical allocation).

Consolidation

The data for the divisions are presented following consolida-
tion of interdivisional transactions. The transactions between the 
divisions are eliminated in the Consolidation column.

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

9.3 

Information about geographical areas

The activities of the GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT  division 
comprise the transportation of goods by rail, road, air and sea. The 
division’s  business  units  are  Global  Forwarding  and  Freight.  At 
the beginning of January 2012, the Czech less-than-truckload and 
part-truckload business of PPL CZ s.r.o. was transferred from the 
EXPRESS segment to the GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT segment. 
The transfer was made to enable the two divisions to concentrate 
on their respective core competencies. The prior-year figures were 
adjusted accordingly.

The main geographical areas in which the Group is active are 
Germany,  Europe,  the  Americas,  Asia  Pacific  and  Other  regions. 
External  revenue,  non-current  assets  and  capex  are  disclosed  for 
these regions. Revenue, assets and capex are allocated to the indi-
vidual regions on the basis of the domicile of the reporting entity. 
Non-current assets primarily comprise intangible assets, property, 
plant and equipment and other non-current assets.

162

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Segment reporting

9.4  Reconciliation of segment amounts

Reconciliation of segment amounts to consolidated amounts

Reconciliation

€ m

external revenue

internal revenue

Total revenue

other operating income

Materials expense

staff costs

other operating expenses

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment 
losses

Profit / loss from operating activities (EBIT)

net income from associates

net other finance costs

Profit before income taxes

income taxes

Consolidated net profit for the period

of which attributable to

Deutsche Post AG shareholders

non-controlling interests

total for reportable segments

Corporate Center / other

reconciliation to group /  
Consolidation

Consolidated amount

2011 1

52,764

1,241

54,005

1,825

–31,642

–15,855

– 4,429

–1,079

2,825

2

–

–

–

–

–

–

2012

55,461

1,295

56,756

1,966

–33,161

–16,849

– 4,492

–1,133

3,087

2

–

–

–

–

–

–

2011

65

1,195

1,260

1,305

–1,335

– 894

– 530

–195

–389

58

–

–

–

–

–

–

2012

51

1,152

1,203

1,420

–1,294

– 941

– 602

–206

– 420

0

–

–

–

–

–

–

2011 1

0

–2,436

–2,436

–1,080

2,433

19

1,064

0

0

0

–

–

–

–

–

–

2012

0

–2,447

–2,447

–1,218

2,592

20

1,051

0

–2

0

–

–

–

–

–

–

2011

52,829

0

52,829

2,050

–30,544

–16,730

–3,895

–1,274

2,436

60

– 837

1,659

–393

1,266

1,163

103

2012

55,512

0

55,512

2,168

–31,863

–17,770

– 4,043

–1,339

2,665

2

– 429

2,238

– 458

1,780

1,658

122

1  Prior-year figures adjusted 

 segment reporting disclosures.

the 

The 

table 

shows 

following 

reconciliation  of 
Deutsche Post DHL’s total assets to the segment assets. Financial 
assets,  income  tax  assets,  deferred  taxes,  cash  and  cash  equiva-
lents  as  well  as  additional  interest-bearing  asset  components  are 
deducted.

The 

table 

following 

reconciliation  of 
Deutsche Post DHL’s total liabilities to the segment liabilities. The 
interest-bearing  components  of  the  provisions  and  liabilities  as 
well as income tax liabilities and deferred taxes are deducted.

shows 

the 

Reconciliation of segment assets

€ m

total assets

investment property

non-current financial assets including investments 
in associates

other non-current assets

Deferred tax assets

income tax assets

receivables and other current assets

Current financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Segment assets

of which Corporate Center / other

total for reportable segments

Consolidation

2011

38,408

– 40

–773

– 454

–1,153

–239

–10

–2,470

–3,123

30,146

3,167

27,233

–254

2012

34,121

– 43

–1,085

– 535

–1,257

–127

–10

–225

–2,400

28,439

1,322

27,332

–215

Reconciliation of segment liabilities

€ m

total equity and liabilities

equity

Consolidated liabilities

non-current provisions

non-current liabilities

Current provisions

Current liabilities

Segment liabilities

of which Corporate Center / other

total for reportable segments

Consolidation

2011

38,408

2012

34,121

–11,199

–12,164

27,209

– 6,874

–1,713

–287

– 6,215

12,120

820

11,486

–186

21,957

– 4,643

– 4,689

–182

– 939

11,504

797

10,827

–120

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

163

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
inCoMe stateMent DisClosures

10  Revenue

€ m

revenue

2011

52,829

2012

55,512

Revenue increased by €2,683 million (5.1 %) year-on-year to 

€55,512 million. The increase was due to the following factors:

Factors affecting revenue increase

€ m

organic growth

Portfolio changes 1

Currency translation effects

Total

1  explanations 

 note 2.

2012

1,161

–216

1,738

2,683

As in the prior-year period, there was no revenue in financial 
year  2012  that  was  generated  on  the  basis  of  barter  transactions. 
Revenue was up year-on-year in almost all areas. 

The  further  classification  of  revenue  by  division  and  the 
 allocation  of  revenue  to  geographical  areas  are  presented  in  the 
segment reporting.

11  Other operating income

€ m

income from the reversal of provisions

income from the remeasurement of liabilities

income from currency translation differences

insurance income

income from fees and reimbursements

rental and lease income

gains on disposal of non-current assets

Commission income

income from work performed and capitalised

income from the remeasurement of assets 
and  receivables

income from prior-period billings

income from loss compensation

income from the derecognition of liabilities

recoveries on receivables previously written off

income from derivatives 

subsidies

income from trade-related insurance deductions 

Miscellaneous

Other operating income

2011

2012

398

98

185

165

143

177

116

94

117

89

49

21

34

17

13

11

7

396

193

178

172

145

144

127

119

105

92

44

24

20

13

11

9

6

316

2,050

370

2,168

The income from the reversal of provisions primarily reflects 
changes  in  the  assessment  of  settlement  payment  obligations 
 assumed in the context of the restructuring measures in the USA.

The increase in income from the remeasurement of liabilities 

relates largely to the reversal of accruals no longer required. 

Amongst other things, gains on disposal of non-current  assets 
include deconsolidation effects from the sale of the  Express Couri-
ers Limited (ECL) and Parcel Direct Group Pty  Limited (PDG) joint 
ventures as well as from the change in the method of consolidation 
for Exel Saudia LLC.

Subsidies relate to grants for the purchase or production of 
assets. The grants are reported as deferred income and recognised 
in the income statement over the useful lives of the assets.

Miscellaneous other operating income includes a large num-

ber of smaller individual items.

12  Materials expense

€ m

Cost of raw materials, consumables and supplies, 
and of goods purchased and held for resale

goods purchased and held for resale

aircraft fuel

Fuel

Packaging material

spare parts and repair materials

office supplies

other expenses 

Cost of purchased services

transportation costs

Cost of temporary staff

expenses from non-cancellable leases

Maintenance costs

IT services

expenses from cancellable leases

Commissions paid

expenses for the use of Postbank branches

other lease expenses (incidental expenses)

other purchased services

Materials expense

2011

2012

1,564

1,034

804

290

85

69

111

3,957

18,329

1,953

1,640

974

659

485

440

450

239

1,418

26,587

30,544

1,779

1,364

871

351

80

60

123

4,628

18,835

2,015

1,730

965

611

545

456

430

254

1,394

27,235

31,863

The increase in the materials expense is due on the one hand 
to higher aircraft fuel prices, and on the other hand to higher trans-
portation costs as a result of the expansion of business activities.
Other expenses include a large number of individual items.

164

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13  Staff costs / employees

14  Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Income statement disclosures

€ m

€ m

Wages, salaries and compensation

of which expenses under share Matching scheme

of which expenses from 2006 SAR Plan / LTIP

social security contributions 

retirement benefit expenses

expenses for other employee benefits

expenses for severance payments

Staff costs

2011

13,350

35

24

2,022

915

317

126

2012

14,179

35

143

2,094

984

336

177

amortisation of intangible assets, excluding 
the  impairment of goodwill

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

land and buildings (including leasehold 
 improvements)

technical equipment and machinery

other equipment, operating and office 
 equipment, vehicle fleet

16,730

17,770

aircraft

advance payments

2011

306

175

233

418

142

0

968

1,274

0

1,274

2012

295

180

242

420

202

0

1,044

1,339

0

1,339

€16 million  of  the  expenses  under  the  Share  Matching 
Scheme (previous year: €15 million) is attributable to cash-settled 
share-based  payments  and  €19 million  (previous  year:  €20 mil-
lion) to equity-settled transactions. 

Staff costs relate mainly to wages, salaries and compensation, 
as well as all other benefits paid to employees of the Group for their 
services  in  the  year  under  review.  Social  security  contributions 
 relate in particular to statutory social security contributions paid 
by employers. 

Retirement benefit expenses include additions to provisions 
for pensions and similar obligations with the exception of unwind-
ing  of  discounts  recognised  in  net  financial  income / net  finance 
costs, as well as contributions to defined contribution pension plans. 
Detailed  information can be found in 

 notes 6, 17 and 41.

The average number of Group employees in the year under 

review, broken down by employee group, was as follows:

Employees

Hourly workers and salaried employees 

Civil servants

trainees 

Employees

2011

418,375

44,421

4,392

467,188

2012

424,950

42,461

4,910

472,321

The employees of companies acquired or disposed of during 
the  year  under  review  were  included  rateably.  Calculated  as  full-
time equivalents, the number of employees as at 31 December 2012 
amounted  to  428,129  (31 December 2011:  423,502).  The  number 
of employees at consolidated joint ventures amounted to 169 on a 
proportionate basis (previous year: 1,199).

impairment of goodwill

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses increased 
by €65 million year-on-year to €1,339 million. This figure includes 
impairment losses of €28 million (previous year: €50 million). The 
impairment losses are attributable to the segments as follows:

Impairment losses on non-current assets

€ m

MAIL

intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

EXPRESS

Property, plant and equipment

of which aircraft

SUPPLY CHAIN

intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

of which land and buildings  
(including leasehold improvements)

of which technical equipment and machinery

Corporate Center / Other

Property, plant and equipment

of which land and buildings

Impairment losses

2011

2012

31

29

2

6

6

1

13

0

13

7

6

0

0

0

50

1

0

1

18

18

18

2

1

1

0

1

7

7

7

28

The impairment losses result mainly from aircraft that are no 

longer used. 

In  the  previous  year,  most  of  the  impairment  losses  were 
 attributable  to  the  MAIL  segment  and  mainly  related  to  software 
that was no longer in use. 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

165

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15  Other operating expenses

17  Net other finance costs

2011

2012

€ m

2011

2012

€ m

other business taxes

travel and training costs

expenses for advertising and public relations

Cost of purchased cleaning and security services

insurance costs

Warranty expenses and compensation payments

telecommunication costs

Consulting costs

Write-downs of current assets

expenses from currency translation differences

office supplies

entertainment and corporate hospitality expenses

services provided by the Federal Posts and 
 telecommunications agency

Voluntary social benefits

Contributions and fees

Commissions paid

legal advisory costs

losses on disposal of assets

expenses from derivatives

Monetary transaction costs

audit costs

expenses from prior-period billings 

Donations

Miscellaneous

Other operating expenses

315

343

399

289

203

241

234

198

210

189

173

151

111

80

61

63

62

69

28

33

30

31

17

550

344

341

315

240

237

227

206

198

181

172

144

87

78

69

68

66

59

56

38

32

28

19

365

3,895

288

4,043

The increase in other business taxes relates to the additional 

VAT payment for the period from 1998 to 30 June 2010; 

 note 3.

Miscellaneous other operating expenses include a large num-

ber of smaller individual items.

Taxes  other  than  income  taxes  are  either  recognised  under 
the  related  expense  item  or,  if  no  specific  allocation  is  possible, 
 under other operating expenses.

Other financial income

interest income

income from other equity investments and financial 
assets

gains on the disposal of associates

other financial income

Other finance costs

interest expenses

of which unwinding of discounts for provisions 
for pensions and other provisions

Write-downs of financial assets

other finance costs

Foreign currency result

Net other finance costs

74

8

0

508

590

– 660

–299

– 98

– 633

–1,391

–36

– 837

48

6

541

62

657

– 642

–352

–35

–372

–1,049

–37

– 429

In the previous year, €63 million of the write-downs of finan-
cial  assets  related  to  impairments  in  Corporate  Center / Other  of 
the  equity  interest  in  Deutsche  Postbank  AG  due  to  the  decline 
in the share price at the time of reclassification, and €9 million to 
the  equity- accounted  company  Unipost  Servicios  Generales  S. L., 
Spain, included in the MAIL segment.

Net  finance  costs  includes  interest  income  of  €48 million 
(previous year: €74 million) as well as interest expense of €642 mil-
lion  (previous  year:  €660 million).  These  result  from  financial 
 assets and liabilities that were not measured at fair value through 
profit or loss.

The effects of the Postbank sale, which was completed in Feb-
ruary 2012,  and  the  interest  expense  on  the  additional  VAT  pay-
ment, were the main factors affecting the net other finance costs of 
€429 million (previous year: €837 million); 

 note 3.

Income taxes

18 

€ m

16  Net income from associates

€ m

net income from associates

2011

60

2012

2

Current income tax expense

Current recoverable income tax

Deferred tax expense from temporary differences

Deferred tax income from tax loss carryforwards

Income taxes

Investments  in  companies  on  which  a  significant  influence 
can  be  exercised  and  which  are  accounted  for  using  the  equity 
method  contributed  €2 million  (previous  year:  €60 million,  of 
which  €58 million  was  attributable  to  Deutsche  Postbank  AG)  to 
net finance costs. This contribution mainly relates to Danzas AEI 
Emirates LLC, United Arab Emirates.

Net income from associates decreased as a result of the dis-

posal of Deutsche Postbank AG.

2011

– 565

21

– 544

–29

180

151

–393

2012

– 591

4

– 587

– 58

187

129

– 458

166

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Income statement disclosures

A deferred tax asset in the amount of €979 million (previous 
year:  €881 million)  was  recognised  in  the  balance  sheet  for  com-
panies that reported a loss in the previous year or in the current 
period  as,  based  on  tax  planning,  realisation  of  the  tax  asset  is 
probable.

In financial year 2012, as in the previous year, German Group 
companies  were  not  affected  by  tax  rate  changes.  The  change  in 
the tax rate in some foreign tax jurisdictions did not lead to any 
significant effects.

The  effective  income  tax  expense  includes  prior-period  tax 
expenses from German and foreign companies in the amount of 
€70 million (previous year: expense of €106 million). 

The  following  table  presents  the  tax  effects  on  the  compo-

nents of other comprehensive income:

Other comprehensive income

€ m

2012

Currency translation reserve

other changes in retained earnings

IAS 39 hedging reserve

IAS 39 revaluation reserve

IFRS 3 revaluation reserve

share of other comprehensive 
income of associates

Other comprehensive income

2011

Currency translation reserve

other changes in retained earnings

IAS 39 hedging reserve

IAS 39 revaluation reserve

IFRS 3 revaluation reserve

share of other comprehensive 
income of associates

Other comprehensive income

before taxes

income taxes

after taxes

10

2

36

–12

–2

–37

–3

167

1

–3

–7

–1

10

167

0

0

– 9

2

0

0

–7

0

0

1

–2

0

0

–1

10

2

27

–10

–2

–37

–10

167

1

–2

– 9

–1

10

166

19  Consolidated net profit for the period

In financial year 2012, the Group generated a consolidated net 
profit for the period of €1,780 million (previous year: €1,266 mil-
lion). Of this figure, €1,658 million (previous year: €1,163 million) 
was attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders.

20  Non-controlling interests

The  net  profit  attributable  to  non-controlling  interests  in-

creased by €19 million to €122 million.

The  reconciliation  to  the  effective  income  tax  expense  is 
shown below, based on consolidated net profit before income taxes 
and the expected income tax expense:

Reconciliation

€ m

Profit before income taxes

expected income taxes

Deferred tax assets not recognised for initial 
 differences 

Deferred tax assets of german group companies 
not recognised for tax loss carryforwards and 
temporary differences

Deferred tax assets of foreign group companies 
not recognised for tax loss carryforwards and 
temporary differences

effect of current taxes from previous years

tax-exempt income and non-deductible expenses

Differences in tax rates at foreign companies 

Income taxes

2011

1,659

– 494

14

164

54

–106

– 68

43

–393

2012

2,238

– 667

8

99

143

–70

– 42

71

– 458

The  difference  from  deferred  tax  assets  not  recognised  for 
initial  differences  is  due  to  temporary  differences  between  the 
carrying amounts in the IFRS financial statements and in the tax 
accounts  of  Deutsche  Post  AG  that  result  from  initial  differences 
in  the  opening  tax  accounts  as  at  1 January 1995.  In  accordance 
with IAS 12.15 (b) and IAS 12.24 (b), the Group did not recognise 
any  deferred  tax  assets  in  respect  of  these  temporary  differences, 
which  relate  mainly  to  property,  plant  and  equipment  as  well  as 
to provisions for pensions and similar obligations. The remaining 
temporary differences between the carrying amounts in the IFRS 
financial statements and in the opening tax accounts amounted to 
€788 million as at 31 December 2012 (previous year: €815 million). 
The effects from deferred tax assets of German Group com-
panies  not  recognised  for  tax  loss  carryforwards  and  temporary 
 differences  relate  primarily  to  Deutsche  Post  AG  and  members 
of its consolidated tax group. Effects from deferred tax assets of 
 foreign companies not recognised for tax loss carryforwards and 
temporary differences relate primarily to the Americas region. 

€85 million  (previous  year:  €39 million)  of  the  effects  from 
 deferred tax assets not recognised for tax loss carryforwards and 
temporary differences relates to the reduction of the  effective  income 
tax expense due to the utilisation of tax loss carry forwards and tem-
porary differences, for which deferred tax assets had  previously not 
been recognised. In addition, the recognition of  deferred taxes pre-
viously not  recognised for tax loss carry forwards and of deductible 
temporary   differences  from  a  prior  period  reduced  the  deferred 
tax expense by €207 million (previous year: €144 million). Effects 
from  unrecognised  deferred  tax  assets  amounting  to  €79 million 
(previous year: €239 million, write-down) were due to a valuation 
allowance  recognised  for  a  deferred  tax  asset.  Other  effects  from 
un recognised deferred tax assets primarily relate to tax loss carry-
forwards for which no deferred taxes were recognised.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21  Earnings per share

Basic  earnings  per  share  are  computed  in  accordance  with 
IAS 33 (Earnings per Share) by dividing consolidated net profit by 
the average number of shares. Basic earnings per share for financial 
year 2012 were €1.37 (previous year: €0.96).

Basic earnings per share

Consolidated net profit for the 
period attributable to Deutsche  
Post AG shareholders

Weighted average number of shares 
outstanding

2011

2012

€ m

1,163

1,658

number 1,208,878,374 1,208,890,874

Basic earnings per share

€

0.96

1.37

To compute diluted earnings per share, the average  number 
of  shares  outstanding  is  adjusted  for  the  number  of  all  poten-
tially  dilutive  shares.  This  item  includes  the  executives’  rights  to 
shares under the Share Matching Scheme (as at 31 December 2012: 
6,192,747  shares)  and  the  maximum  number  of  ordinary  shares 
that can be issued on exercise of the conversion rights under the 
convertible  bond   issued  on  6  December 2012.  Consolidated  net 
profit for the period attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders 
was increased by the amounts spent for the convertible bonds. 

Diluted earnings per share

Consolidated net profit for the 
period attributable to Deutsche  
Post AG shareholders

Plus interest expense on the 
 convertible bond

less income taxes

adjusted consolidated net profit for 
the period attributable to Deutsche 
Post AG shareholders

Weighted average number  
of shares outstanding

2011

2012

1,163

1,658

–

–

–

0 1

0 1

1,658

€ m

€ m

€ m

€ m

number

1,208,878,374 1,208,890,874

Potentially dilutive shares

number

1,799,459

51,569,759

Weighted average number  
of shares for diluted earnings

Diluted earnings per share

1  rounded below €1 million.

number

1,210,677,833 1,260,460,633

€

0.96

1.32

22  Dividend per share

A  dividend  per  share  of  €0.70  is  being  proposed  for  finan-
cial year 2012. Based on the 1,209,015,874 shares recorded in the 
commercial  register  as  at  31 December 2012,  this  corresponds  to 
a  dividend  distribution  of  €846 million.  In  the  previous  year  the 
dividend amounted to €0.70 per share. Further details on the divi-
dend distribution can be found in 

 note 39.

168

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

balanCe sHeet DisClosures

23 

Intangible assets

23.1  Overview

€ m

Cost

Balance at 1 January 2011

additions from business combinations

additions

reclassifications

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance at 31 December 2011 / 1 January 2012

additions from business combinations

additions

reclassifications

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance at 31 December 2012

Amortisation and impairment losses

Balance at 1 January 2011

additions from business combinations

amortisation

impairment losses

reclassifications

reversals of impairment losses

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance at 31 December 2011 / 1 January 2012

additions from business combinations

amortisation

impairment losses

reclassifications

reversals of impairment losses

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance at 31 December 2012

Carrying amount at 31 December 2012

Carrying amount at 31 December 2011

internally 
generated 
intangible 
assets

Purchased 
brand names

Purchased 
customer lists

981

0

98

8

–37

–1

1,049

0

65

27

– 57

–1

1,083

669

0

98

28

0

0

–25

0

770

0

97

0

5

0

– 51

0

821

262

279

462

4

0

0

0

15

481

0

0

10

0

11

502

432

0

0

0

0

0

0

14

446

0

0

0

0

0

0

11

457

45

35

860

49

0

0

0

33

942

0

4

0

0

–2

944

397

0

71

0

0

0

0

19

487

0

78

0

0

0

0

– 5

560

384

455

other 
purchased 
intangible 
assets

1,291

12

106

47

–39

6

goodwill

11,793

136

4

0

–34

209

1,423

12,108

0

134

33

– 92

2

33

0

0

–29

– 53

1,500

12,059

973

1

108

1

1

–1

–28

2

1,127

0

0

0

0

0

–7

15

1,057

1,135

0

119

1

– 5

0

–79

2

1,095

405

366

0

0

0

0

0

–3

5

1,137

10,922

10,973

advance 
payments and 
intangible 
assets under 
development

60

0

82

– 42

–11

0

89

0

101

– 49

–7

0

134

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

133

88

total

15,447

201

290

13

–121

262

16,092

33

304

21

–185

– 43

16,222

3,599

1

277

29

1

–1

– 60

50

3,896

0

294

1

0

0

–133

13

4,071

12,151

12,196

In financial year 2012, after the historical cost of intangible 
assets  had  been  compared  with  the  amounts  available  in   local 
 accounting  systems,  an  adjustment  was  made  for  accumulated 
cost,  and  amortisation  and  impairment  losses,  in  the  amount  of 
€199 million,  with  no   effect  on  either  the  balance  sheet  or  the 
 income statement. The prior-year figures were adjusted accordingly. 

Purchased  software,  concessions,  industrial  rights,  licences 
and similar rights and assets are reported under purchased intan-
gible assets. Internally generated intangible assets relate to develop-
ment costs for internally developed software. Other than goodwill, 
only brand names that are acquired in their entirety are considered 
to have indefinite useful lives.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

169

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Media GmbH, Exel Saudia LLC and 2 Sister Food Group; 

The additions to goodwill represent the goodwill of intelliAd 
 note 2.
Of the net disposals of goodwill, €10 million relates to  Parcel 
 note 2.

Direct Group and €16 million to Express Couriers Limited; 

23.2  Allocation of goodwill to CGU s

€ m

Total goodwill 1

MAIL 

EXPRESS

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

DHL global Forwarding

DHL Freight 

SUPPLY CHAIN

DHL supply Chain

Williams lea

2011

2012

10,973

10,922

687

4,161

3,843

280

1,699

417

701

4,092

3,802

320

1,699

422

1  goodwill from reconciliation amounts to €–114 million (previous year: €–114 million).

For the purposes of annual impairment testing in accordance 
with  IAS 36,  the  Group  determines  the  recoverable  amount  of  a 
CGU on the basis of its value in use. This calculation is based on 
projections of free cash flows that are initially discounted at a rate 
corresponding to the post-tax cost of capital. Pre-tax discount rates 
are then determined iteratively. 

%

SUPPLY CHAIN

DHL supply Chain

Williams lea

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

DHL Freight 

DHL global Forwarding

MAIL

EXPRESS

The  cash  flow  projections  are  based  on  the  detailed  plan-
ning for EBIT, depreciation / amortization and investment planning 
adopted by management, as well as changes in net working capital, 
and take both internal historical data and external macroeconomic 
data into account. From a methodological perspective, the detailed 
planning phase covers a three-year planning horizon from 2013 to 
2015. It is supplemented by a perpetual annuity representing the 
value  added  from  2016  onwards.  This  is  calculated  using  a  long-
term growth rate, which is determined for each CGU separately and 
which  is  shown  in  the  table  below.  The  growth  rates  applied  are 
based on long-term real growth figures for the relevant economies, 
growth  expectations  for  the  relevant  sectors  and  long-term  infla-
tion  forecasts  for  the  countries  in  which  the  CGU s  operate.  The 
cash flow forecasts are based both on past experience and on the 
effects of the anticipated future general market trend. In addition, 
the forecasts take into account growth in the respective geograph-
ical submarkets and in global trade, and the ongoing trend towards 
outsourcing logistics activities. Cost trend forecasts for the trans-
portation network and services also have an impact on value in use.
The pre-tax cost of capital is based on the weighted average 
cost of capital. The (pre-tax) discount rates for the individual CGU s 
and the growth rates assumed in each case for the perpetual annu-
ity are shown in the following table:

Discount rates

growth rates

2011

2012

2011

2012

9.2

7.8

9.4

9.2

8.6 

n / a

9.2

7.8

9.4

9.1

8.0

9.2

2.5

2.0

2.0

2.5

0.5 

n / a

2.5

2.0

2.0

2.5

0.5

2.0

On the basis of these assumptions and the impairment tests 
carried  out  for  the  individual  CGU s  to  which  goodwill  was  allo-
cated, it was established that the recoverable amounts for all CGU s 
exceed their carrying amounts. No impairment losses were recog-
nised on goodwill in any of the CGU s as at 31 December 2012.

When performing the impairment test, Deutsche Post DHL 
conducted  sensitivity  analyses  as  required  by  IAS 36.134.  These 
analyses did not reveal any risk of impairment to goodwill.

170

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

land  
and buildings

technical 
equipment 
and machinery

other 
 equipment, 
operating 
and office 
equipment

Vehicle fleet 
and transport 
equipment

advance 
payments and 
assets under 
development

aircraft

4,445

4,164

2,386

1,674

1,961

24

60

26

– 87

21

4,489

2

88

88

–124

–3

4,540

18

238

128

–268

11

4,291

2

138

201

– 616

– 6

4,010

1,918

3,097

18

167

8

– 6

– 4

–73

15

2,043

1

172

8

9

0

– 51

– 6

2,176

2,364

2,446

10

226

7

–11

–1

–254

11

3,085

1

241

1

0

–1

– 592

–3

2,732

1,278

1,206

9

182

43

–140

–1

2,479

3

160

52

–168

– 6

2,520

1,800

5

209

2

0

0

–129

1

1,888

2

214

0

3

0

–157

–3

1,947

573

591

0

36

120

–120

–3

1,707

0

116

402

–162

– 6

2,057

813

0

141

1

0

0

–111

–1

843

0

184

18

0

– 9

–147

–2

887

1,170

864

6

277

63

–269

2

2,040

0

278

33

–238

1

2,114

1,101

1

205

2

11

0

–226

3

1,097

0

206

0

0

0

–206

1

1,098

1,016

943

232

0

637

– 414

–18

7

444

0

613

–782

–13

1

263

3

0

0

0

0

0

–2

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

262 

443

total

14,862

57

1,430

–34

– 902

37

15,450

7

1,393

– 6

–1,321

–19

15,504

8,732

34

948

20

– 6

– 5

–795

29

8,957

4

1,017

27

12

–10

–1,153

–13

8,841

6,663

6,493

24  Property, plant and equipment

24.1  Overview

€ m

Cost

Balance at 1 January 2011

additions from business combinations

additions

reclassifications

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance at 31 December 2011 / 1 January 2012

additions from business combinations

additions

reclassifications

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance at 31 December 2012

Depreciation and impairment losses

Balance at 1 January 2011

additions from business combinations

Depreciation

impairment losses

reclassifications

reversals of impairment losses

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance at 31 December 2011 / 1 January 2012

additions from business combinations

Depreciation

impairment losses

reclassifications

reversals of impairment losses

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance at 31 December 2012

Carrying amount at 31 December 2012

Carrying amount at 31 December 2011

The  accumulated  cost  and  depreciation  were  each  adjusted 
by €296 million based on the results of an asset inventory. This had 
no effect on the balance sheet or income statement. The prior-year 
figures were adjusted accordingly.

Advance payments relate only to advance payments on items 
of  property,  plant  and  equipment  for  which  the  Group  has  paid 
 advances  in  connection  with  uncompleted  transactions.  Assets 
 under  development  relate  to  items  of  property,  plant  and  equip-
ment in progress at the balance sheet date for whose production 
internal or third-party costs have already been incurred. 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

171

  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
24.2  Finance leases

The following assets are carried as non-current assets result-

ing from finance leases:

€ m

land and buildings

technical equipment and machinery

other equipment, operating and office equipment

aircraft

Vehicle fleet and transport equipment

Finance leases

2011

2012

51

6

17

249

4

327

47

5

12

212

4

280

The corresponding liabilities from finance leases are included 

under financial liabilities; 

 note 43.3.

Investments  in  associates  principally  relate  to  Air  Hong 
Kong  Ltd,  China,  Danzas  AEI  Emirates  LLC,  United  Arab  Emir-
ates,  Tasman Cargo Airlines Pty. Limited, Australia, and Unipost 
 Servicios Generales S. L., Spain.

The additions relate to the companies DHL Oman and All you 
need GmbH, Berlin, the latter of which was subsequently reclassi-
fied to current assets with a view to resale; 

 notes 2 and 35.

The  reclassification  as  held  for  sale  of  the  carrying  amount 
of  the  investment  in  Deutsche  Postbank  AG  (€1,801 million)  in 
the  previous  year  led  to  a  decline  in  investments  in  associates; 

 notes 3 and 35.

Further  disclosures  on  impairment  losses  are  contained  in 

 note 17.

The following tables show a summary of the aggregate  income 
statements  and  balance  sheets  of  the  associates. The  amounts  do 
not relate to the shares attributable to Deutsche Post DHL, but are 
presented based on a notional 100 % shareholding.

Aggregate results

2011

2012

€ m

53

13

– 5

0

61

16

5

21

40

revenue

net profit for the year

Aggregate balance sheets

€ m

assets

liabilities and provisions

61

– 6

–2

0

53

21

–11

10

43

27  Non-current financial assets

€ m

available-for-sale financial assets

loans and receivables

assets at fair value through profit or loss

lease receivables

Non-current financial assets

2011

584

4

2011

513

410

2011

172

428

94

35

729

2012

646

3

2012

469

373

2012

162

737

115

25

1,039

The  increase  in  loans  and  receivables  is  mainly  due  to  the 

€298 million demanded as repayment of state aid; 

 note 3. 

Investment property

25 

€ m

Cost

as at 1 January

reclassifications

Disposals

Currency translation differences

As at 31 December

Depreciation

as at 1 January

reclassifications

As at 31 December

Carrying amount as at 31 December

Rental income for this property amounted to €3 million (pre-
vious  year:  €3 million),  whilst  the  related  expenses  amounted  to 
€3 million (previous year: €4 million). The fair value amounted to 
€82 million (previous year: €90 million).

Investments in associates

Investments in associates changed as follows:

26 

€ m

as at 1 January

additions

Changes in group’s share of equity

Changes recognised in profit or loss

Profit distributions

Changes recognised in other comprehensive 
income

impairment losses

elimination of intercompany profits and losses

reclassified to current assets

Carrying amount as at 31 December

2011

1,847

0

60

0

10

–72

0

–1,801

44

2012

44

3

2

–1

0

0

0

–2

46

172

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

Most of the tax loss carryforwards are attributable to Deutsche 
Post AG. It will be possible to utilise them for an indefinite period 
of  time.  In  the  case  of  the  foreign  companies,  the  significant  tax 
loss carryforwards will not lapse before 2024. 

Deferred  taxes  have  not  been  recognised  for  temporary  dif-
ferences  of  €563 million  (previous  year:  €572 million)  relating  to 
earnings of German and foreign subsidiaries because these tempor-
ary differences will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Maturity structure

€ m

2012

Deferred tax  
assets

Deferred tax 
 liabilities

2011

Deferred tax  
assets

Deferred tax 
 liabilities

short-term

long-term

netting

total

492

125

571

326

1,014

353

908

255

–249

–249

–326

–326

1,257

229

1,153

255

30  Inventories

Standard  costs  for  inventories  of  postage  stamps  and  spare 
parts  in  freight  centres  amounted  to  €15 million  (previous  year: 
€13 million). There was no requirement to charge significant valu-
ation allowances on these inventories.

raw materials, consumables and supplies 

Work in progress

Finished goods and goods purchased and held 
for resale

spare parts for aircraft 

advance payments

Inventories

Income tax assets and liabilities

31 

€ m

income tax assets

income tax liabilities

2011

170

28

55

20

0

273

2011

239

570

2012

184

60

52

25

1

322

2012

127

534

All  income  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  current  and  have 

 maturities of less than one year.

Write-downs  of  non-current  financial  assets  amounting  to 
€6 million  (previous  year:  €13 million)  were  recognised  in  the 
income  statement  because  the  assets  were  impaired.  €6 million 
(previous year: €12 million) of this amount is attributable to assets 
at fair value through profit or loss and €0 million (previous year: 
€1 million) to available-for-sale financial assets.

Compared  with  the  market  rates  of  interest  prevailing  at 
31 December 2012  for  comparable  non-current  financial   assets, 
most of the housing promotion loans are low-interest or interest-
free loans. They are recognised in the balance sheet at a present value 
of €26 million (previous year: €15 million). The principal amount 
of these loans totals €27 million (previous year: €17 million). 
Details on restraints on disposal are contained in 

 note 47.2.

28  Other non-current assets

€ m

Pension assets

Miscellaneous

Other non-current assets

2011

453

117

570

2012

534

99

633

Further  information  on  pension  assets  can  be  found  in 

 note 41.

29  Deferred taxes

€ m

intangible assets

Property, plant and 
 equipment

non-current financial assets

other non-current assets

other current assets

Provisions

Financial liabilities

other liabilities

tax loss carryforwards

Gross amount

netting

Carrying amount

2011

2012

assets

liabilities

assets

liabilities

€ m

38

92

22

7

40

269

215

115

681

1,479

–326

1,153

224

44

54

49

48

40

75

47

–

581

–326

255

37

93

18

7

38

224

124

104

861

1,506

–249

1,257

173

46

59

55

33

56

11

45

–

478

–249

229

€602 million  (previous  year:  €523 million)  of  the  deferred 
taxes on tax loss carryforwards relates to tax loss carryforwards in 
Germany and €259 million (previous year: €158 million) to foreign 
tax loss carryforwards.

No  deferred  tax  assets  were  recognised  for  tax  loss  carry-
forwards of around €11.9 billion (previous year: €12.4 billion) and 
for temporary differences of around €1,772 million (previous year: 
€2,097 million),  as  it  can  be  assumed  that  the  Group  will  prob-
ably not be able to use these tax loss carryforwards and temporary 
 differences in its tax planning. 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

173

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32  Receivables and other current assets

33  Current financial assets

€ m

trade receivables

Prepaid expenses

Deferred revenue

Current tax receivables

receivables from private postal agencies

income from cost absorption

Creditors with debit balances

receivables from loss compensation (recourse claims)

receivables from employees 

receivables from insurance business

receivables from group companies

receivables from cash-on-delivery

receivables from sale of assets

receivables from bundes-Pensions-service  
für Post und telekommunikation e. V.

Miscellaneous other assets

Receivables and other current assets

2011

6,426

672

480

586

8

86

39

23

25

16

27

13

29

11

648

9,089

€ m

available-for-sale financial assets

loans and receivables

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

lease receivables

Current financial assets

2011

8

215

2,234

41

2,498

2012

24

77

109

42

252

The reduction in current financial assets is attributable to the 
sale  of  the  interest  in  Deutsche  Postbank  and  the  associated  put 
option recognised under assets at fair value through profit or loss 
in the previous year.

Of the available-for-sale financial assets, €24 million ( previous 
year: €8 million) was measured at fair value. Details on restraints on 
 note 47.2.
disposal are contained in 

2012

6,418

679

534

491

148

61

43

25

23

20

7

7

0

0

656

9,112

34  Cash and cash equivalents

Of the tax receivables, €373 million (previous year: €470 mil-
lion)  relates  to  VAT,  €68 million  (previous  year:  €71 million)  to 
customs and duties, and €50 million (previous year: €45 million) 
to other tax receivables. Miscellaneous other assets include a large 
number of individual items.

€ m

Cash equivalents

bank balances

Cash in transit

Cash

other cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

2011

1,914

751

311

18

129

2012

884

959

441

13

103

3,123

2,400

35  Assets held for sale and liabilities associated with assets 

held for sale

The amounts reported under these items mainly relate to the 

following:

€ m

Deutsche Post AG – real estate (Corporate Center / other)

DHL Fashion (France) SAS, France – fashion logistics (SUPPLY  CHAIN segment)

investment in all you need gmbH, germany – (MAIL segment)

exel inc., USA – real estate (SUPPLY CHAIN segment)

DHL logistics (China) Co. ltd., China – real estate (SUPPLY CHAIN segment)

Cargus international S. R. L., romania – domestic express business (EXPRESS segment)

Deutsche Post immobilien gmbH, germany – real estate (Corporate Center / other)

US express aviation, USA – aircraft (EXPRESS segment)

investment in Deutsche Postbank AG (Corporate Center / other)

Deutsche Post DHl Corporate real estate Management gmbH & Co. logistikzentren KG, germany –  
real estate (Corporate Center / other)

Miscellaneous

Assets held for sale and liabilities associated with assets held for sale

2011

21

0

0

3

0

0

0

4

1,916

15

2

1,961

assets

2012

2011

22

13

11

9

8

7

4

2

0

0

0

76

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

liabilities

2012

0

18

1

0

7

4

0

0

0

0

0

30

174

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INVESTMENT IN DEUTSCHE POSTBANk AG

CARGUS INTERNATIONAL S. R. L.

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

The  sale  of  the  interest  in  Deutsche  Postbank  AG  held  by 
Deutsche  Post  AG  was  completed  at  the  end  of  February 2012; 
 note 3.  At  the  end  of  February 2011,  the  shares  of  Deutsche 
 Postbank AG held by Deutsche Post AG amounting to a 39.5 % inter-
est (86,417,432 shares) were reclassified as held for sale. As a result, 
the investment in Deutsche Postbank was measured in accordance 
with IFRS 5. 

In  the  previous  year,  the  last  measurement  of  the  carrying 
amount of the investment prior to its reclassification resulted in an 
impairment loss of €63 million. This was presented in write-downs 
 note 17.  Additional  write-downs  of  €136 mil-
of  financial  assets; 
lion  were  recognised  following  the  reclassification  to   assets  held 
for  sale  in  February 2011.  In  accordance  with  IFRS 5.21,  any  sub-
sequent increase in fair value less costs to sell of the held-for-sale 
interest in Deutsche Postbank AG must be recognised as a gain, but 
not in excess of the cumulative impairment loss. 

All  previous  write-downs  in  the  total  amount  of  €251 mil-
lion were  reversed due to the increase in Postbank’s share price to 
€24.13 as at the end of 2011. The equity item included €81 million 
in income from the IAS 39 revaluation reserve and €44 million in 
expenses from the currency translation reserve that were attribut-
able to Deutsche Postbank AG. 

DEUTSCHE POST DHL CORPORATE REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT 
GMBH & CO. LOGISTIkzENTREN kG

The properties held for sale by Deutsche Post DHL  Corporate 
Real Estate Management GmbH & Co. Logistikzentren KG ( formerly 
Deutsche  Post  Immobilienentwicklung  Grundstücksgesellschaft) 
Germany,  were  reclassified  as  non-current  assets  due  to  lack  of 
demand.

ALL YOU NEED GMBH

All you need GmbH, Germany, was acquired with a view to 
 note 2. 
resale  by  Deutsche  Post  Beteiligungen  Holding  GmbH; 
In accordance  with  IFRS 5.39,  the  major  classes  of  assets  and 
 liabilities are not disclosed. As, to date, no adjustment had to be 
made  due  to  subsequent  measurement  and  no  gain / loss  on  dis-
posal was  recorded, presentation of a profit / loss from discontinued 
operations item was not required. 

DHL LOGISTICS CHINA CO. LTD.

DHL  Logistics  China  Co. Ltd.,  China,  plans  to  sell  a  ware-
house and to transfer the financial liability of €7 million related to 
the warehouse.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Since  the  middle  of  October 2012,  Deutsche  Post  DHL  has 
intended  to  sell  the  domestic  express  business  in  Romania.  The 
transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013. 
The  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  company  concerned  were  reclas-
sified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5. The most recent 
appraisal of the assets prior to reclassification did not result in any 
impairment.

Cargus International S. R. L. – domestic business

€ m

ASSETS

non-current assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Total ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

non-current liabilities and provisions

Current liabilities and provisions

Total EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

31 Dec. 2012

2

3

2

7

0

4

4

DHL FASHION (FRANCE) SAS

Deutsche Post DHL plans to sell the fashion logistics business 
of DHL Fashion (France) SAS, France. The assets and liabilities of 
the business concerned were reclassified as held for sale in accord-
ance with IFRS 5. The most recent appraisal prior to reclassification 
resulted in an impairment loss of €1 million, which is reported in 
depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses.

DHL Fashion (France) SAS – fashion logistics business

€ m

ASSETS

non-current assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Total ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

non-current liabilities and provisions

Current liabilities and provisions

Total EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

31 Dec. 2012

0

13

0

13

3

15

18

175

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
36  Issued capital

36.1  Share capital

KfW Bankengruppe (KfW) placed a 5 % package of Deutsche 
Post AG shares on the market at the beginning of September 2012; 
 note 52.1.  This  placement  reduced  the  interest  in  Deutsche 
Post AG’s  share  capital  held  by  KfW  from  30.5 %  to  25.5 %;  the 
 remaining  74.5 %  of  the  shares  are  in  free  float.  KfW  holds  the 
shares in trust for the federal government.

authorised Capital 2009

Contingent Capital 2011

Authorised / contingent capital as at 31 December 2012 

amount  

€ m Purpose

increase in share capital 
against cash / non-cash contri-
butions (until 20 april 2014)

240

issue of option / conversion 
rights (24 May 2016)

75

Share ownership as at 31 December

number of shares

KfW

Free float

2011

2012

368,277,358

308,277,358

840,738,516

900,738,516

Share capital as at 31 December

1,209,015,874

1,209,015,874

36.2 

Issued capital and purchase of treasury shares

The issued capital amounts to €1,209 million. It is composed 
of  1,209,015,874  no-par  value  registered  shares  (ordinary  shares) 
with a notional interest in the share capital of €1 per share and is 
fully paid up.

Changes in issued capital

€

as at 1 January

treasury shares acquired

treasury shares issued

As at 31 December

2011

2012

1,209,015,874

1,209,015,874

–1,676,178

–1,770,503

1,676,178

1,770,503

1,209,015,874

1,209,015,874

Deutsche Post AG acquired 1.8 million shares at a total price 
of €26 million, including transaction costs, in a number of trans-
actions in order to settle entitlements due under the 2011 tranche 
of the bonus programme for executives (Share Matching Scheme). 
In addition, 2,082 shares were acquired and issued to persons who 
have since left the Group. Consequently, issued capital was reduced 
by  the  notional  value  of  the  shares  purchased.  The  average  pur-
chase price per share was €14.42. The issued capital increased again 
when the shares were issued to the executives.

The  notional  value  of  the  treasury  shares  is  deducted  from 
issued capital, and the difference between the notional value and 
the reported value of the treasury shares is deducted from retained 
earnings.

Changes in treasury shares are presented in the statement of 

changes in equity.

Authorised Capital 2009

As resolved by the Annual General Meeting on 21 April 2009, 
the  Board  of  Management  is  authorised,  subject  to  the  approval 
of the Supervisory Board, to issue up to 240 million new, no-par 
value  registered  shares  until  20 April 2014  in  exchange  for  cash 
and / or non-cash contributions and thereby increase the company’s 
share capital. Shareholders are generally entitled to a subscription 
right. To date, the Board of Management has not made use of such 
authorisation.

Contingent Capital 2011

In  its  resolution  dated  25 May 2011,  the  Annual  General 
Meeting authorised the Board of Management, subject to the con-
sent of the Supervisory Board, to issue bonds with warrants, con-
vertible bonds and/or income bonds as well as profit  participation 
certificates,  or  a  combination  thereof,  in  an  aggregate   principal 
amount  of  up  to  €1 billion,  on  one  or  more  occasions  until 
24 May 2016, thereby granting options or conversion rights for up 
to 75 million shares having a total share in the share capital not to 
exceed €75 million. The share capital is contingently increased by 
up to €75 million.

Based on this authorisation, Deutsche Post AG issued a €1 bil-
lion  convertible  bond  on  6 December 2012,  allowing  holders  to 
convert  the  bond  into  up  to  48 million  Deutsche  Post  AG  shares. 
Full use was made of the authorisation by issuing the bond.

36.3  Authorisation to acquire treasury shares

By way of a resolution adopted by the Annual General  Meeting 
on  28 April 2010,  the  company  is  authorised  to  acquire  treasury 
shares in the period to 27 April 2015 of up to 10 % of the share cap-
ital  existing  when  the  resolution  was  adopted.  The  authorisation 
permits the Board of Management to exercise it for every purpose 
permitted by law, and in particular to pursue the goals mentioned 
in the resolution by the Annual General Meeting. 

At  the  Annual  General  Meeting  on  9 May 2012,  the  author-
isation  to  acquire  treasury  shares  was  supplemented.  In  future, 
treasury  shares  acquired  on  the  basis  of  the  authorisation,  with 
shareholders’ pre-emptive rights disapplied, may also be used for 
the purposes of listing on a stock exchange outside Germany. 

In addition, the Board of Management is authorised to  acquire 

treasury shares using derivatives. 

As on 31 December 2011, Deutsche Post AG did not hold any 

treasury shares on 31 December 2012.

176

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
36.4  Disclosures on corporate capital

The equity ratio was 35.6 % in financial year 2012 (previous 
year:  29.2 %).  The  company’s  capital  is  monitored  using  the  net 
gearing ratio which is defined as net debt divided by the total of 
equity and net debt. In the previous year, the informative value of 
this key figure was limited due to the company’s net liquidity and 
was therefore not disclosed.

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

An  amount  of  €34 million  (31 December 2011:  €33 million) 
was transferred to the capital reserves in the period up to 31 Decem-
ber 2012 for the various tranches of the Share Matching Scheme.

The  exercise  of  the  rights  to  shares  under  the  2011  tranche 
in April 2012 reduced the capital reserves by €24 million ( previous 
year: €21 million for the 2010 tranche) due to the issuance of treas-
ury shares in this amount to the executives.

On issue of the convertible bond on Deutsche Post AG shares, 

the conversion right was recognised in capital reserves; 

 note 3.

37.2 

IAS 39 revaluation reserve

The  revaluation  reserve  comprises  gains  and  losses  from 
changes in the fair value of available-for-sale financial assets that 
have been recognised in other comprehensive income. This reserve 
is reversed to profit or loss either when the assets are sold or other-
wise disposed of, or if the fair value of the assets falls significantly 
or permanently below their cost.

€ m

as at 1 January

Currency translation differences

unrealised gains / losses

share of associates

realised gains / losses

Revaluation reserve as at 31 December before tax

Deferred taxes

Revaluation reserve as at 31 December after tax

2011

87

1

– 8

13

0

93

–3

90

2012

93

0

–12

– 81

0

0

–1

–1

37.3 

IAS 39 hedging reserve

The hedging reserve is adjusted by the effective portion of a 
cash flow hedge. The hedging reserve is released to profit or loss 
when the hedged item is settled.

2012

4,776

2,400

252

57

115

1,952

12,164

14,116

13.8

2012

2,254

–1

–7

3

– 463

1,786

2011

2,170

90

–34

5

– 517

1,714

€ m

2011

2,158

2012

2,170

as at 1 January 

additions

Disposals in balance sheet (basis adjustment)

Disposals in income statement

Hedging reserve as at 31 December before tax

Deferred taxes

Hedging reserve as at 31 December after tax

3

17

13

0

–21

0

12

0

2

4

18

10

0

–24

10

74

2011

–36

– 4

0

1

–39

5

–34

2012

–39

–29

6

59

–3

– 4

–7

Corporate capital

€ m

total financial liabilities

less cash and cash equivalents

less current financial assets

less long-term deposits

less non-current derivative financial instruments

Net debt

Plus total equity

Total capital

net gearing ratio (%)

37  Other reserves

€ m

Capital reserves 

IAS 39 revaluation reserve 

IAS 39 hedging reserve

IFRS 3 revaluation reserve

Currency translation reserve

Other reserves

37.1  Capital reserves

€ m

Capital reserves as at 1 January

share Matching scheme

addition / issue of rights  
under share Matching scheme

2009 tranche

2010 tranche

2011 tranche

2012 tranche

exercise of rights under share Matching scheme

2010 tranche

2011 tranche

Conversion right

Capital reserves as at 31 December

2,170

2,254

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

177

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  change  in  the  hedging  reserve  is  mainly  the  result  of 
the  recognition  of  previously  unrealised  gains  and  losses  from 
hedging  future  operating  currency  transactions.  In  the  financial 
year, unrealised losses totalling €60 million and unrealised gains 
totalling €1 million from the hedging reserve were recognised in 
operating  profit  under  other  operating  expenses  (previous  year: 
unrealised  losses  of  €10 million  and  unrealised  gains  of  €8 mil-
lion were  recognised in operating profit). There were no disposals 
in net finance costs in financial year 2012, as in the previous year. 
Furthermore,  there  were  adjusting  entries  (basis  adjustments)  in 
the amount of €6 million (previous year: €0 million) for  hedging 
transactions  related  to  the  acquisition  of  non-current  non- 
financial  assets.  Deferred taxes have been recognised in respect of 
the  hedging reserve.

€ m

as at 1 January

Dividend payment

Consolidated net profit for the period

transactions with non-controlling interests

Miscellaneous other changes

Retained earnings as at 31 December

2011

7,767

–786

1,163

– 59

1

8,086

2012

8,086

– 846

1,658

58

0

8,956

The  transactions  with  non-controlling  interests  primarily 
 include the sale in November 2012 of 6.03 % of the shares in Blue 
Dart  Express   Limited,  India,  in  which  the  previous  interest  was 
81.03 %, and the acquisition of the remaining 24 % interest in DHL 
Logistics Private Limited (formerly DHL Lemuir Logistics Private 
Limited), India. The purchase price was paid and the shares were 
transferred at the beginning of April 2012. 

Retained  earnings  include  the  reserve  for  treasury  shares, 

37.4 

IFRS 3 revaluation reserve 

€ m

as at 1 January 

Changes recognised in other comprehensive income

IFRS 3 revaluation reserve as at 31 December

2011

6

–1

5

2012

which changed as follows:

5

–2

3

€ m

2011

–1

–20

20

–1

2012

–1

–24

22

–3

The IFRS 3 revaluation reserve includes the hidden reserves of 
DHL Logistics Co. Ltd., China, from purchase price allocation. These 
are attributable to the customer relationships contained in the 50 % 
interest previously held and to adjustments to deferred taxes.

as at 1 January 

treasury shares acquired

treasury shares issued

Reserve for treasury shares as at 31 December 

37.5  Currency translation reserve

changes in equity.

Changes in treasury shares are presented in the statement of 

The  currency  translation  reserve  includes  the  translation 
gains and losses from the consolidation of the subsidiaries report-
ing in foreign currency.

€ m

as at 1 January 

transactions with non-controlling interests

Comprehensive income

Changes from unrealised gains and losses

Changes from realised gains and losses

Currency translation reserve as at 31 December

2011

– 682

0

191

–26

– 517

2012

– 517

–2

9

47

– 463

38  Retained earnings

As well as the undistributed consolidated profits generated in 
prior periods, retained earnings also contain the effects from trans-
actions  with  non-controlling  interests.  Changes  in  the   reserves 
during  the  financial  year  are  also  presented  in  the  statement  of 
changes in equity.

39  Equity attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders

The equity attributable to Deutsche Post AG shareholders in 
financial  year  2012  amounted  to  €11,951 million  (previous  year: 
€11,009 million).

Dividends

Dividends  paid  to  the  shareholders  of  Deutsche  Post  AG 
are based on the net retained profit of €1,314 million reported in 
Deutsche Post AG’s annual financial statements in accordance with 
the  Handelsgesetzbuch  (HGB  –  German  Commercial  Code).  The 
amount of €468 million remaining after deduction of the planned 
total  dividend  of  €846 million  (which  corresponds  to  €0.70  per 
share) will be carried forward.

Dividend distributed in financial year 2012  
for the year 2011

Dividend distributed in financial year 2011  
for the year 2010

total dividend  
€ m

846

786

Dividend  
per share  
€

0.70

0.65

The dividend is tax-exempt for shareholders resident in Ger-
many. No capital gains tax (investment income tax) will be with-
held on the distribution.

178

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40  Non-controlling interests

This balance sheet item includes adjustments for the interests 
of non-Group shareholders in the consolidated equity from acqui-
sition  accounting,  as  well  as  their  interests  in  profit  or  loss.  The 
interests relate primarily to the following companies:

€ m

DHL sinotrans international air Courier ltd., China

blue Dart express limited, india

tradeteam limited, UK

DHL logistics Private limited, india

other companies

Non-controlling interests

2011

86

19

12

17

56

190

2012

107

29

13

0

64

213

The remaining 24 % interest in DHL Logistics Private Limited 
(formerly  DHL  Lemuir  Logistics  Private  Limited),  India,  was  ac-
quired at the beginning of April 2012.

The  portion  of  other  comprehensive  income  attributable  to 
non-controlling interests largely relates to the currency translation 
reserve. The changes are shown in the following table:

€ m

balance at 1 January

transactions with non-controlling interests

Comprehensive income

Changes from unrealised gains and losses 

Changes from realised gains and losses

Currency translation reserve as at 31 December

2011

2012

–3

0

–2

0

– 5

– 5

2

–2

0

– 5

41  Provisions for pensions and similar obligations

The  information  below  on  pension  obligations  is  generally 

broken down into the following areas: Germany, UK and Other.

41.1  Provisions for pensions and similar obligations by area

€ m

31 December 2012

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations

Pension assets

Net pension provisions

31 December 2011

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations

Pension assets

Net pension provisions

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

germany

UK

other

total

2,105

0

2,105

4,096

0

4,096

117

325

–208

140

266

–126

220

209

11

209

187

22

2,442

534

1,908

4,445

453

3,992

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

179

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
41.2  Actuarial assumptions

The majority of the Group’s defined benefit obligations relate 
to plans in Germany and the UK. In addition, significant pension 
plans are provided in other euro zone countries, Switzerland and 
the USA. The actuarial measurement of the main benefit plans was 
based on the following assumptions:

%

31 December 2012

Discount rate

rate of future salary increase

Future inflation rate

31 December 2011

Discount rate

rate of future salary increase

Future inflation rate

For  the  German  Group  companies,  life  expectancy  was  cal-
culated using the Richttafeln 2005 G mortality tables published by 
Klaus Heubeck. Life expectancy for the British pension plans was 
based  on  the  mortality  rates  used  for  the  last  funding  valuation. 
These are based on plan-specific mortality analyses and include an 
allowance for an expected increase in future life expectancy. Other 
countries used their own mortality tables.

41.3  Computation of expense for the period

The  following  average  expected  return  on  plan  assets  was 

used to compute the expense for the period:

germany

UK

other  
euro zone

switzerland

USA

3.70

2.50

2.00

4.75

2.50

2.00

4.50

3.50

3.00

4.75

3.49

3.00

3.70

2.12

2.00

4.75

2.15

2.00

1.75

2.25

1.25

2.50

2.75

1.50

4.00

–

–

4.75

–

–

%

1 January 2012

average expected return on plan assets

1 January 2011

average expected return on plan assets

germany

UK

other  
euro zone

switzerland

USA

3.72

5.81

5.65

4.00

6.50

4.15

6.25

5.69

4.25

7.00

The average expected return on plan assets was determined 
by reference to long-term bond yields (government and corporate). 
In this process, suitable risk premiums were applied on the basis of 
historical market returns and current market expectations taking 
plan asset structures into account.

180

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41.4  Reconciliation of the present value of the defined benefit 
 obligation, the fair value of plan assets and the pension 
provisions

€ m

2012

Present value of defined benefit obligation at 31 December for wholly or partly funded benefits

Present value of defined benefit obligation at 31 December for unfunded benefits

Present value of total defined benefit obligation at 31 December

Fair value of plan assets at 31 December 

unrecognised gains (+) / losses (–)

unrecognised past service cost

asset adjustment for asset ceiling

Net pension provisions at 31 December

Pension assets at 31 December 

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations at 31 December

2011

Present value of defined benefit obligation at 31 December for wholly or partly funded benefits

Present value of defined benefit obligation at 31 December for unfunded benefits

Present value of total defined benefit obligation at 31 December

Fair value of plan assets at 31 December 

unrecognised gains (+) / losses (–)

unrecognised past service cost

asset adjustment for asset ceiling

Net pension provisions at 31 December

Pension assets at 31 December 

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations at 31 December

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

germany

UK

other

total

8,317

291

8,608

– 4,129

–2,374

0

0

2,105

0

2,105

4,097

3,377

7,474

–2,106

–1,272

0

0

4,096

0

4,096

4,107

9

4,116

–3,936

–388

0

0

–208

325

117

3,943

8

3,951

–3,714

–364

0

1

–126

266

140

1,807

217

2,024

–1,693

–320

0

0

11

209

220

1,640

192

1,832

–1,549

–262

0

1

22

187

209

14,231

517

14,748

– 9,758

–3,082

0

0

1,908

534

2,442

9,680

3,577

13,257

–7,369

–1,898

0

2

3,992

453

4,445

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

181

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41.5  Changes in the present value of the total defined benefit 

obligation

€ m

2012

Present value of total defined benefit obligation at 1 January 

Current service cost, excluding employee contributions

employee contributions 

interest cost

benefit payments

Past service cost

Curtailments

settlements 

transfers

acquisitions / divestitures

actuarial gains (–) / losses (+)

Currency translation effects

Present value of total defined benefit obligation at 31 December

2011

Present value of total defined benefit obligation at 1 January 

Current service cost, excluding employee contributions

employee contributions 

interest cost

benefit payments

Past service cost

Curtailments

settlements 

transfers

acquisitions / divestitures

actuarial gains (–) / losses (+)

Currency translation effects

Present value of total defined benefit obligation at 31 December

germany

UK

other

total

7,474

88

9

357

– 480

0

0

0

1

2

1,157

0

8,608

7,275

79

9

356

– 481

13

0

0

0

0

223

0

7,474

3,951

32

13

191

–179

0

0

0

0

0

12

96

4,116

3,302

28

14

177

–168

0

0

– 9

2

3

469

133

1,832

13,257

36

15

74

– 80

1

–1

0

4

0

145

–2

2,024

156

37

622

–739

1

–1

0

5

2

1,314

94

14,748

1,772

12,349

35

15

76

– 83

–1

–7

–11

0

0

15

21

142

38

609

–732

12

–7

–20

2

3

707

154

3,951

1,832

13,257

182

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

germany

UK

other

total

2,106

2,122

0

79

22

–196

– 4

0

0

0

4,129

2,122

160

0

89

– 65

–202

2

0

0

0

2,106

3,714

93

13

215

–11

–178

0

0

0

90

3,936

1,549

43

15

81

78

–71

3

0

0

– 5

1,693

7,369

2,258

28

375

89

– 445

–1

0

0

85

9,758

3,378

1,519

7,019

85

14

200

86

–167

2

4

– 9

121

3,714

39

15

80

–38

–74

0

0

–11

19

1,549

284

29

369

–17

– 443

4

4

–20

140

7,369

41.6  Changes in the fair value of plan assets

€ m

2012

Fair value of plan assets at 1 January

employer contributions

employee contributions 

expected return on plan assets

gains (+) / losses (–) on plan assets

benefit payments

transfers

acquisitions

settlements

Currency translation effects

Fair value of plan assets at 31 December 

2011

Fair value of plan assets at 1 January

employer contributions

employee contributions 

expected return on plan assets

gains (+) / losses (–) on plan assets

benefit payments

transfers

acquisitions

settlements

Currency translation effects

Fair value of plan assets at 31 December 

The plan assets are composed of fixed-income securities (35 %; 
previous year: 45 %), equities and investment funds (16 %; pre vious 
year:  18 %),  real  estate  (13 %;  previous  year:  17 %),  cash  and  cash 
equivalents (25 %; previous year: 6 %), insurance contracts (3 %; pre-
vious  year:  4 %)  and  other  assets  (8 %;  previous  year:  10 %).  Other 
assets primarily comprise alternative investments. 

The  increase  in  the  cash  and  cash  equivalents  component 
and  the   resulting  shift  in  importance  for  the  other  asset  classes 
 relate to the funding, in the amount of approximately €2 billion, of 
plan  assets in Germany in December 2012. These funds had been 
 invested exclusively in money market funds as at the end of 2012. 
77 % (previous year: 79 %) of the real estate has a fair value of 
€995 million (previous year: €1,011 million) and is owner-occupied 
by Deutsche Post AG.

41.7  Funded status

€ m

2008  
total

2009  
total

2010  
total

2011  
total

2012 
total

Present value of defined benefit 
obligations at 31 December

Fair value of plan assets  
at 31 December 

12,246

11,664

12,349

13,257

14,748

– 6,235

– 6,472

–7,019

–7,369

– 9,758

Funded status 1

6,011

5,192

5,330

5,888

4,990

1  the funded status is recognised until financial year 2008 with the amounts  

of Deutsche Postbank group included.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41.8  Gains and losses

€ m

actual return on plan assets

expected return on plan assets

Experience gains (+) / losses (–) 
on plan assets 1

2008  
total

– 632

415

2009  
total

509

335

2010  
total

475

374

2011  
total

352

369

2012 
total

464

375

–1,047

174

101

–17

89

1  the experience gains and losses on plan assets are recognised until financial year 2008 

with the amounts of the Deutsche Postbank group included.

41.9  Changes in net pension provisions

€ m

2012

net pension provisions at 1 January

Pension expense

benefit payments

employer contributions

employee contributions 

acquisitions / divestitures

transfers

Currency translation effects

Net pension provisions at 31 December

2011

net pension provisions at 1 January

Pension expense

benefit payments

employer contributions

employee contributions 

acquisitions / divestitures

transfers

Currency translation effects

€ m

experience gains (+) / losses (–) 
on defined benefit obligations

gains (+) / losses (–) on defined 
benefit obligations arising 
from changes in assumptions

Total actuarial gains (+) /  
losses (–) on defined benefit 
obligations 1

2008  
total

2009  
total

2010  
total

2011  
total

2012 
total

11

61

50

–29

121

635

– 561

– 455

– 678

–1,435

646

– 500

– 405

–707

–1,314

1  total actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit obligations are recognised until financial 

year 2008 with the amounts of the Deutsche Postbank group included.

germany

UK

other

total

4,096

399

–284

–2,122

9

2

5

0

2,105

4,150

377

–279

–160

9

0

–1

0

–126

15

–1

– 93

0

0

0

–3

–208

–39

3

–1

– 85

0

–1

0

–3

22

37

– 9

– 43

0

0

1

3

11

27

46

– 9

–39

0

0

0

–3

22

3,992

451

–294

–2,258

9

2

6

0

1,908

4,138

426

–289

–284

9

–1

–1

– 6

3,992

Net pension provisions at 31 December

4,096

–126

Payments amounting to €479 million are expected with  regard 
to net pension provisions in 2013. Of this amount, €228 million is 
attributable to the Group’s expected direct pension payments and 
€251 million to expected employer contributions to pension funds.

184

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41.10   Pension expense

€ m

2012

Current service cost, excluding employee contributions

interest cost

expected return on plan assets

recognised past service cost

amortisation of unrealised gains (–) / losses (+)

effects of curtailments

effects of settlements

effects of asset ceiling

Pension expense 

2011

Current service cost, excluding employee contributions

interest cost

expected return on plan assets

recognised past service cost

amortisation of unrealised gains (–) / losses (+)

effects of curtailments

effects of settlements

effects of asset ceiling

Pension expense 

€204 million (previous year: €186 million) of the entire pen-
sion  expense  was  included  in  staff  costs  in  2012,  and  €247 mil-
lion (previous  year:  €240 million)  was  included  in  net  other 
 finance costs.

42  Other provisions

€ m

other employee benefits 1

restructuring provisions

technical reserves (insurance)

Postage stamps

tax provisions 1

Miscellaneous provisions 1

non-current

2012

856

383

397

0

0

336

1,972

2011

792

603

398

0

0

381

2,174

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

germany

UK

other

total

88

357

–79

0

33

0

0

0

399

79

356

– 89

13

18

0

0

0

377

2011

274

328

190

450

384

508

32

191

–215

0

7

0

0

0

15

28

177

–200

0

–2

0

0

0

3

36

74

– 81

1

8

–1

1

–1

37

35

76

– 80

–1

24

– 6

3

– 5

46

Current

2012

253

298

194

450

127

341

2011

1,066

931

588

450

384

889

156

622

–375

1

48

–1

1

–1

451

142

609

–369

12

40

– 6

3

– 5

426

total

2012

1,109

681

591

450

127

677

2,134

1,663

4,308

3,635

1  Miscellaneous provisions, other employee benefits and tax provisions were restructured. employee-related components were reclassified from miscellaneous provisions to other employee 

benefits. the tax provisions previously included in miscellaneous provisions are shown separately. the prior-year figures were adjusted accordingly.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

185

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
42.1  Changes in other provisions

€ m

as at 1 January 2012 1

Changes in consolidated group

utilisation

Currency translation differences

reversal

unwinding of discount / changes in discount rate

reclassification

additions

As at 31 December 2012

other 
 employee 
benefits

restructuring 
provisions

technical 
reserves 
(insurance)

1,066

0

– 590

– 5

–30

37

19

612

1,109

931

–1

–218

– 9

–180

18

0

140

681

588

0

– 68

1

–30

24

0

76

591

Postage 
stamps

450

0

– 450

0

0

0

0

450

450

tax provisions

Miscellaneous 
provisions

384

–1

–282

–1

–32

0

– 4

63

127

889

–2

–384

–1

–124

24

–14

289

677

total

4,308

– 4

–1,992

–15

–396

103

1

1,630

3,635

1  Miscellaneous provisions, other employee benefits and tax provisions were restructured. employee-related components were reclassified from miscellaneous provisions to other employee 

benefits. the tax provisions previously included in miscellaneous provisions are shown separately. the prior-year figures were adjusted accordingly.

The  provision  for  other  employee  benefits  primarily  covers 
workforce  reduction  expenses  (severance  payments,  transitional 
benefits, partial retirement etc.).

The restructuring provisions comprise all expenses resulting 
from the restructuring measures within the US express business as 
well as in other areas of the Group. These measures relate primarily 
to termination benefit obligations to employees (partial retirement 
programmes, transitional benefits) and expenses from the closure 
of terminals, for example.

Technical  reserves  (insurance)  mainly  consist  of  outstand-
ing loss reserves and IBNR reserves; further details can be found 
in 

 note 6. 
The  provision  for  postage  stamps  covers  outstanding  obli-
gations to customers for letter and parcel deliveries from postage 
stamps sold but still unused by customers, and is based on studies 
by market research companies. It is measured at the nominal value 
of the stamps issued.

Of  the  tax  provisions,  €28 million  (previous  year:  €264 mil-
lion) relates to VAT, €6 million (previous year: €4 million) to cus-
toms and duties, and €93 million (previous year: €116 million) to 
other tax provisions.

42.2  Miscellaneous provisions

€ m

litigation costs

risks from business activities

aircraft maintenance

Miscellaneous other provisions 

Miscellaneous provisions 1

2011

134

137

35

583

889

2012

115

104

43

415

677

1  Miscellaneous provisions were restructured. employee-related components were reclassified 
from miscellaneous provisions to other employee benefits. the tax provisions previously 
included in miscellaneous provisions are shown separately. the prior-year figures were 
adjusted accordingly.

Miscellaneous  other  provisions  include  a  large  number  of 

 individual items. 

42.3  Maturity structure

The maturity structure of the provisions recognised in finan-

cial year 2012 is as follows:

€ m

2012

other employee benefits

restructuring provisions

technical reserves (insurance)

Postage stamps

tax provisions

Miscellaneous provisions

less  
than 1 year

More  
than 1 year  
to 2 years

More  
than 2 years  
to 3 years

More  
than 3 years  
to 4 years

More  
than 4 years  
to 5 years

More  
than 5 years

253

298

194

450

127

341

1,663

291

260

168

0 

0 

110

829

168

16

78

0 

0 

63

325

119

13

48

0 

0 

30

210

81

13

32

0 

0 

20

146

197

81

71

0 

0 

113

462

total

1,109

681

591

450

127

677

3,635

186

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

non-current

2012

4,109

2

123

65

8

106

4,413

2011

963

6

148

65

11

173

1,366

Current

2012

0

135

26

28

109

105

403

2011

696

157

27

37

126

4,601

5,644

2011

1,659

163

175

102

137

4,774

7,010

total

2012

4,109

137

149

93

117

211

4,816

43  Financial liabilities

€ m

bonds

Due to banks

Finance lease liabilities

liabilities to group companies

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

other financial liabilities

Financial liabilities

43.1  Bonds

The following table contains further details on the  company’s 
most  significant  bonds.  The  bonds  issued  by  Deutsche  Post 
 Finance B. V. are fully guaranteed by Deutsche Post AG.

Major bonds

bond 2002 / 2012 

bond 2003 / 2014

bond 2012 / 2017

bond 2012 / 2022

bond 2012 / 2020

bond 2012 / 2024

Convertible bond 2012 / 2019 1

nominal 
coupon

issue volume

issuer

5.125 %

€679 million Deutsche Post Finance B. V.

4.875 %

€926 million Deutsche Post Finance B. V.

1.875 %

€750 million Deutsche Post Finance B. V.

2.950 %

€500 million Deutsche Post Finance B. V.

1.875 %

€300 million Deutsche Post AG

2.875 %

€700 million Deutsche Post AG

0.600 %

€1 billion   Deutsche Post AG

2011

2012

Fair value  
€ m

Carrying 
amount  
€ m

Fair value  
€ m

698

984

–

–

–

–

–

0

942

744

496

296

696

920

0

969

775

525

302

711

929

Carrying 
amount  
€ m

696

948

–

–

–

–

–

1  this relates to the debt component of the convertible bond; the equity component is recognised in capital reserves. the fair value of the listed convertible bond was €1,049 million at the balance 

sheet date.

Two  new  bonds  with  an  aggregate  principal  amount  of 
€1.25 billion  were  placed  on  the  market  in  June 2012  under 
the  Debt  Issuance  Programme  (DIP).  The  bonds  mature  on 
27 June 2017 and 2022, respectively. 

Two  more  conventional  bonds  were  issued  on  11 Decem-
ber 2012. The two bonds mature on 11 December 2020 and 2024, 
respectively.  The  bonds  were  recognised  at  fair  value,  including 
transaction  costs.  In  subsequent  years  the  financial  liabilities  are 
required to be measured at amortised cost. Adjustments are made 
using the effective interest method.

The  €1 billion  convertible  bond  was  issued  on  6 Decem-
ber 2012. The conversion right allows holders to convert the bond 
into  a  pre-determined  number  of  Deutsche  Post  AG  shares.  The 
conversion  right  may  be  exercised  between  16 January 2013  and 
21 November 2019. On issue, the conversion price was €20.74. In 
addition, Deutsche Post AG was granted a call option allowing it to 
repay the bond early at face value plus accrued interest. For contrac-
tual reasons, the convertible bond has to be split into a debt com-

ponent and an equity component. The value of the debt component 
calculated under IAS 32.31 on the issue date amounted to €920 mil-
lion,  including  transaction  costs  and  the  call  option  granted.  In 
 subsequent years, interest will be added to the carrying amount of 
the bond up to the issue amount using the effective interest method 
(unwinding of discount), and recognised in profit or loss.

43.2  Amounts due to banks

The reported liabilities due to banks are fully guaranteed by 

Deutsche Post AG.

€ m

amounts due to banks

2011

163

2012

137

The liabilities mainly comprise current overdraft facilities due 

to various banks.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

187

 
 
 
 
 
43.3  Finance lease liabilities

Finance lease liabilities mainly relate to the following items:

leasing partner

interest rate

end of term asset

2011  
Carrying 
amount  
€ m

2012  
Carrying 
amount  
€ m

DHL express (US) inc., USA

Wachovia Financial services; 
Wells Fargo

6.74 %

2019 / 2022

SCM supply Chain Management inc., Canada

bank of nova scotia

variable

2012 / 2013

sorting system 
software

Warehouse, 
 office 
 equipment

DHL express (austria) gmbH, austria

Deutsche Post AG, germany

Deutsche Post immobilien gmbH, germany

raiffeisen impuls immobilien 
gmbH

T-systems international gmbH, 
germany

lorac investment Manage-
ment sarl

3.62 %

2019 real estate

6.5 %

6.0 %

2015 IT equipment

2016 real estate

36

22

10

10

9

2011

2,926

1,418

430

4,774

34

12

11

7

9

2012

0

0

211

211

43.5  Other financial liabilities

€ m

Mandatory exchangeable bond 
(unwinding of discount)

other liabilities related to the sale 
of Deutsche Postbank shares

Miscellaneous financial liabilities

Other financial liabilities

Deutsche 
Post AG

Deutsche 
Post AG

other group 
companies

The reduction in other financial liabilities is attributable to the 
completion of the sale of Deutsche Postbank shares. The  liabilities 
arising  from  the  contract  were  recognised  under  other   financial 
 liabilities  in  the  previous  year.  These  consisted  of  a  mandatory 
 exchangeable bond on 60 million Postbank shares, cash  collateral 
for  the  acquisition  of  another  26 million  Postbank  shares  and 
payments  on  settled  hedging  transactions  entered  into  to  hedge 
Deutsche Bank shares; 

 note 3.

The  leased  assets  are  recognised  in  property,  plant  and 
equipment  at  carrying  amounts  of  €280 million  (previous  year: 
€327 million).  The  difference  between  the  carrying  amounts  of 
the assets and the liabilities results from longer useful lives of the 
 assets  compared  with  a  shorter  repayment  period  for  the  lease 
 instalments and unscheduled repayments of lease obligations. The 
notional amount of the minimum lease payments totals €165 mil-
lion (previous year: €198 million).

Maturity structure

€ m

less than 1 year

More than 1 year to 5 years

More than 5 years

Total

Present value  
(finance lease liabilities)

Minimum lease payments 
(notional amount)

2011

2012

2011

2012

27

70

78

175

26

56

67

149

35

77

86

198

33

62

70

165

43.4  Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

The amounts reported under this item relate to the negative 

fair values of derivative financial instruments.

€ m

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit  
or loss

2011

137

2012

117

188

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Balance sheet disclosures

44  Other liabilities

€ m

other liabilities

non-current

2011

347

2012

276

2011

4,106

Current

2012

4,004

2011

4,453

total

2012

4,280

44.1  Breakdown of other liabilities

44.2  Maturity structure

€ m

tax liabilities

incentive bonuses

Compensated absences

Deferred income, of which non-current: 71  
(previous year: 76)

Wages, salaries, severance payments

Payables to employees and members of executive 
bodies

liabilities from the sale of residential building loans, 
of which non-current: 149 (previous year: 221)

Debtors with credit balances

social security liabilities

overtime claims

COD liabilities

other compensated absences

insurance liabilities

liabilities from cheques issued

accrued rentals

liabilities from loss compensation

accrued insurance premiums for damages  
and similar liabilities

Miscellaneous other liabilities,  
of which non-current: 56 (previous year: 50) 

954

592

401

336

292

227

223

124

152

102

76

63

9

21

27

17

16

884

577

375

351

287

177

153

150

143

110

70

49

36

35

34

15

12

2011

2012

€ m

less than 1 year

More than 1 year to 2 years

More than 2 years to 3 years

More than 3 years to 4 years

More than 4 years to 5 years

More than 5 years

2011

4,106

38

34

13

11

251

4,453

2012

4,004

46

28

10

7

185

4,280

There  is  no  significant  difference  between  the  carrying 
amounts and the fair values of the other liabilities due to their short 
maturities or market interest rates. There is no significant interest 
rate risk because most of these instruments bear floating rates of 
interest at market rates.

45  Trade payables

Trade  payables  also  include  liabilities  to  Group  companies 

in the amount of €42 million (previous year: €33 million).

€ m

821

4,453

822

4,280

trade payables

2011

6,168

2012

5,991

Of  the  tax  liabilities,  €502 million  (previous  year:  €523 mil-
lion) relates to VAT, €227 million (previous year: €280 million) to 
customs and duties, and €155 million (previous year: €151 million) 
to other tax liabilities.

€832 million  of  the  trade  payables  (previous  year:  €955 mil-
lion) is attributable to Deutsche Post AG. Trade payables  primarily 
have a maturity of less than one year. The reported carrying amount 
of trade payables corresponds to their fair value.

The liabilities from the sale of residential building loans relate 
to obligations of Deutsche Post AG to pay interest subsidies to bor-
rowers to offset the deterioration in borrowing terms in conjunc-
tion with the assignment of receivables in previous years, as well as 
pass-through obligations from repayments of principal and inter-
est for residential building loans sold.

Miscellaneous  other  liabilities  include  a  large  number  of 

 individual items.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CasH FloW DisClosures

46  Cash flow disclosures

The cash flow statement is prepared in accordance with IAS 7 
(Statement of Cash Flows) and discloses the cash flows in order to 
present  the  source  and  application  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents. 
It distinguishes between cash flows from operating, investing and 
financing  activities.  Cash  and  cash  equivalents  are  composed  of 
cash, cheques and bank balances with a maturity of not more than 
three  months,  and  correspond  to  the  cash  and  cash  equivalents 
 reported on the balance sheet. The effects of currency translation 
and changes in the consolidated group are adjusted when calculat-
ing cash and cash equivalents.

46.1  Net cash used in operating activities

Cash flows from operating activities are calculated by  adjusting 
consolidated net profit / loss for tax expenses, net financial  income /  
net finance costs and non-cash factors, as well as taxes paid, changes 
in  provisions  and  in  other  non-current  assets  and   liabilities  (net 
cash from operating activities before changes in working capital). 
Adjustments  for  changes  in  working  capital  ( excluding  financial 
 liabilities) result in net cash from or used in operating activities. 

Net cash used in operating activities amounted to €203 mil-
lion  in  financial  year  2012.  By  contrast,  a  net  cash  inflow  of 
€2,371 million was generated in the previous year. This difference is 
largely attributable to the utilisation of provisions: the funds raised 
on the capital market at the end of the year were used to  further 
fund pension obligations and led to a corresponding change in pen-
sion  provisions.  Provisions  for  the  additional  VAT  payment  were 
also utilised.

The  depreciation,  amortisation  and  impairment  losses  con-
tained  in  EBIT  are  non-cash  effects  and  are  therefore  adjusted. 
They increased from €1,274 million to €1,339 million due to higher 
invest ments in the past. The same applies to non-cash income and 
expenses, which increased EBIT but did not affect cash flows. They 
rose from €7 million to €97 million and mainly relate to accruals 
that were no longer required and were released. The gains on the 
disposal of non-current assets of €74 million are not attributable to 
operating activities. They have therefore been adjusted in the net 
income from the disposal of non-current assets and are presented 
 instead in the cash flows from investing activities.

The higher working capital led to a cash outflow of €422 mil-
lion  (previous  year:  cash  inflow  of  €137 million).  The  change  in 
 liabilities and other items in particular made a significant contribu-
tion to this development.

Non-cash income and expense

€ m

expense from remeasurement of assets

income from remeasurement of liabilities

income from disposal of assets

staff costs relating to share Matching scheme

Miscellaneous

Non-cash income and expense

2011

91

–108

– 8

20

–2

–7

2012

94

–203

–2

19

– 5

– 97

46.2  Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from investing activities mainly result from cash 
received  from  disposals  of  non-current  assets  (divestitures)  and 
cash paid for investments in non-current assets. Interest and divi-
dends received from investing activities as well as cash flows from 
changes in current financial assets are also included.

Net cash used in investing activities amounted to €1,697 mil-
lion  in  the  year  under  review  (previous  year:  €1,129 million). 
 Divestitures  of  non-current  assets,  especially  property,  plant  and 
equipment and intangible assets, led to a cash inflow of €299 mil-
lion, slightly above the prior-year figure of €285 million. The sale of 
land and buildings that were no longer required was the main con-
tributor to this item. Investments in non-current assets rose from 
€1,880 million to €2,032 million.

Whereas cash paid to acquire property, plant and equipment 
declined  slightly  by  €77 million  to  €1,639 million,  cash  paid  for 
other non-current financial assets rose by €256 million to €336 mil-
lion in the year under review. The recognition of the  demand for 
repayment of state aid in this balance sheet item reduced cash flow 
from  investing  activities  by  €298 million.  The  change  in  current 
 financial assets led to a cash outflow of €10 million. This contrasts 
with  the  cash  inflow  of  €394 million  in  the  previous  year,  which 
was largely due to the sale of money market funds in the amount 
of €403 million.

The following assets were acquired and liabilities assumed as 

a result of company acquisitions; see also 

 note 2:

€ m

non-current assets

Current assets (excluding cash and cash equivalents)

non-current provisions and liabilities

Current provisions and liabilities

2011

92

79

22

142

2012

5

19

2

8

190

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
The following table shows the calculation of free cash flow:

46.4  Cash and cash equivalents

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

The  cash  inflows  and  outflows  described  above  produced 
 note 34. This repre-

cash and cash equivalents of €2,400 million; 
sents a year-on-year reduction of €723 million. 

2011

2,371

211

2012

–203

225

otHer DisClosures

–1,716

–1,639

47  Risks and financial instruments of the Group

–1,505

–1,414

47.1  Risk management

Calculation of free cash flow

€ m

Net cash from / used in operating activities

sale of property, plant and equipment  
and intangible assets

acquisition of property, plant and equipment  
and intangible assets

Cash outflow arising from change in property, 
plant and equipment and intangible assets

Disposals of subsidiaries and other business units

acquisition of subsidiaries and other business units

Cash outflow arising from acquisitions / divestitures

interest received

interest paid

Net interest paid

Free cash flow

58

– 84

–26

72

–163

– 91

749

39

– 57

–18

46

–296

–250

–1,885

Free cash flow is considered to be an indicator of how much 
cash  is  available  to  the  company  for  dividend  payments  or  the 
repay ment of debt. Free cash flow declined from €749 million in 
the previous year to €–1,885 million in the year under review. This 
is primarily due to the negative cash flow from operating activities, 
which was exceptionally and significantly reduced by the funding 
of pension obligations mentioned above.

46.3  Net cash from financing activities

Financing activities led to a cash inflow of €1,199 million in the 
year under review, compared with a cash outflow of €1,547 million 
in the previous year. In particular, the conventional corporate bond 
and convertible bond issues resulted in proceeds of €3,176 million 
from the issuance of non-current financial liabilities. In addition 
to the continued funding of pension obligations, part of the funds 
raised was used to repay a bond that fell due in October 2012. This 
made  a  significant  contribution  to  the  cash  outflow  from  repay-
ments of non-current liabilities, in the amount of €773 million.

The dividend payment to the shareholders of Deutsche Post AG, 
which  rose  once  again,  by  €60 million  to  €846 million,  was  the 
largest  payment  in  financing  activities.  Proceeds  from  issuing 
shares or other equity instruments amounted to €74 million. The 
equity  component  of  the  convertible  bond  is  recognised  in  this 
item. The €133 million rise in interest payments to €296 million is 
due in particular to the interest payments related to the  additional 
VAT payment required by the tax authorities.

As a result of its operating activities, the Group is exposed to 
financial risks that may arise from changes in exchange rates, com-
modity prices and interest rates. Deutsche Post DHL  manages these 
risks  centrally  through  the  use  of  non-derivative  and  derivative 
 financial instruments. Derivatives are used exclusively to mitigate 
non-derivative financial risks, and fluctuations in their fair value 
should not be assessed separately from the underlying transaction.
The  Group’s  internal  risk  guidelines  govern  the  universe  of 
actions, responsibilities and necessary controls regarding the use 
of  derivatives.  Financial  transactions  are  recorded,  assessed  and 
processed  using  proven  risk  management  software,  which  also 
regularly documents the effectiveness of hedging relationships. To 
limit counterparty risk from financial transactions, the Group may 
only enter into this type of contract with prime-rated banks. The 
conditions for the counterparty limits individually assigned to the 
banks are reviewed on a daily basis. The Group’s Board of Manage-
ment  is  informed  internally  at  regular  intervals  about  existing 
 financial risks and the hedging instruments deployed to mitigate 
them.   Financial  instruments  are  accounted  for  and  measured  in 
 accordance with IAS 39.

Liquidity management

The ultimate objective of liquidity management is to secure 
the solvency of Deutsche Post DHL and all Group companies. Con-
sequently, liquidity in the Group is centralised as much as possible 
in cash pools and managed in the Corporate Center. 

The  centrally  available  liquidity  reserves  (funding  avail-
ability), consisting of central short-term financial investments and 
committed credit lines, are the key control parameter. The target is 
to have at least €2 billion available in a central credit line.

The  Group  had  central  liquidity  reserves  of  €2.7 billion 
( previous  year:  €3.8 billion)  as  at  31 December 2012,  consisting 
of central  financial  investments  amounting  to  €0.7 billion  plus  a 
syndicated credit line of €2 billion.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

191

 
 
The maturity structure of non-derivative financial liabilities 

within the scope of IFRS 7 based on cash flows is as follows:

Maturity structure: remaining maturities

€ m

As at 31 December 2012

non-current financial liabilities

other non-current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Current financial liabilities 

trade payables

other current liabilities

Current liabilities

As at 31 December 2011

non-current financial liabilities

other non-current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Current financial liabilities 

trade payables

other current liabilities

Current liabilities

less  
than 1 year

More  
than 1 year  
to 2 years

More  
than 2 years  
to 3 years

More  
than 3 years  
to 4 years

More  
than 4 years  
to 5 years

More  
than 5 years

106

0

106

297

5,991

462

6,750

71

0

71

5,582

6,168

317

12,067

1,031

4

1,035

0

0

0

0

184

4

188

0

0

0

0

61

4

65

0

0

0

0

995

4

999

0

0

0

0

61

4

65

0

0

0

0

21

3

24

0

0

0

0

811

3

814

0

0

0

0

34

3

37

0

0

0

0

2,758

137

2,895

0

0

0

0

198

207

405

0

0

0

0

On  25 June 2012,  Deutsche  Post  Finance  B. V.  placed  two 
fixed-coupon  bonds  on  the  capital  market:  one  with  a  principal 
amount of €750 million and a maturity of five years, and one with a 
principal amount of €500 million and a maturity of ten years. Part 
of the issue proceeds was used to repay the Deutsche Post Finance 
B. V. bond amounting to €679 million that fell due in October 2012. 
The bonds are reported in non-current financial liabilities.

Deutsche Post AG borrowed €2 billion on the capital  market 
in  December 2012  to  continue  funding  its  pension   obligations. 
In  addition  to  two  straight  bonds  worth  €300 million  and 
€700 million, respectively (maturity: eight years and twelve years, 
 respectively), a €1 billion convertible bond with a coupon of 0.60 % 
 note 43. €1,250 mil-
was issued at a price of 100 % in December; 
lion of the  issue proceeds was invested in money market funds and, 
in  addition  to  a  further  €736 million  in  cash,  was  transferred  to 
a Contractual Trust Arrange ment (CTA) at the end of December. 
 note 41, serve solely to meet the 
The newly generated plan assets, 
pension commitments of Deutsche Post AG. 

The mandatory exchangeable bond (zero bond) of €2,568 mil-
lion  plus  interest  that  was  issued  in  February 2009  as  part  of 
the sale of Deutsche Postbank AG shares and fully subscribed by 
Deutsche  Bank  was  exercised  on  27 February 2012  through  the 
transfer  of  60 million  Deutsche  Postbank  AG  shares.  A  further 
26,417,432  Postbank  shares  were  transferred  from  Deutsche  Post 
AG  to  Deutsche  Bank  AG  through  the  exercise  of  the  put  option 
on  28 February 2012.  In  the  course  of  the  transactions,  the  cash 
collateral of €1,161 million plus interest issued by Deutsche Bank 
AG in February 2009 as an advance paid on the written put option 
on  26,417,432  Postbank  shares  and  payments  on  settled  hedging 
transactions were offset.

192

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The maturity structure of the derivative financial instruments 

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

based on cash flows is as follows:

Maturity structure: remaining maturities

€ m

As at 31 December 2012

Derivative receivables – gross settlement

Cash outflows 

Cash inflows

Net settlement

Cash inflows

Derivative liabilities – gross settlement

Cash outflows 

Cash inflows

Net settlement

Cash outflows

As at 31 December 2011

Derivative receivables – gross settlement

Cash outflows 

Cash inflows

Net settlement

Cash inflows

Derivative liabilities – gross settlement

Cash outflows 

Cash inflows

Net settlement

Cash outflows

less  
than 1 year

More  
than 1 year  
to 2 years

More  
than 2 years  
to 3 years

More  
than 3 years  
to 4 years

More  
than 4 years  
to 5 years

More  
than 5 years

– 5,210

5,422

– 616

663

13

2

– 4,922

4,803

– 440

430

–22

–3

–1,240

1,311

10

–1,729

1,642

– 4

– 9

16

0

–15

9

–2

0

0

0

0

0

0

–2

14

0

–161

165

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

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Derivative financial instruments entail both rights and obli-
gations. The contractual arrangement defines whether these rights 
and obligations can be offset against each other and therefore  result 
in  a  net  settlement,  or  whether  both  parties  to  the  contract  will 
have to perform their obligations in full (gross settlement). No cash 
flows were reported in the maturity bands for “More than 2 years 
to 3 years”, “More than 3 years to 4 years”, “More than 4 years to 
5 years” and “More than 5 years” as at 31 December 2012, because 
all derivatives will mature by 2014.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

193

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CURRENCY RISk AND CURRENCY MANAGEMENT

The  international  business  activities  of  Deutsche  Post  DHL 
expose it to currency risks that are split internally for risk manage-
ment  purposes  into  balance  sheet  currency  risks  and  currency 
risks from planned future transactions. 

Balance  sheet  currency  risks  arise  from  the  measurement 
and settlement of items in foreign currencies that have been recog-
nised if the exchange rate on the measurement or settlement date 
 differs from the rate on recognition. The resulting foreign exchange 
differences directly impact profit or loss. In order to mitigate this 
 impact as far as possible, all significant balance sheet currency risks 
within the Group are centralised at Deutsche Post AG through the 
in-house  bank  function.  The  centralised  risks  are  aggregated  by 
Corporate  Treasury  to  calculate  a  net  position  per  currency  and 
hedged   externally  based  on  value-at-risk  limits.  The  currency- 
related value at risk (95 % / one-month holding period) for the port-
folio  concerned  totalled  €3 million  (previous  year:  €4 million)  at 
the reporting date; the limit was a maximum of €5 million. 

The notional amount of the currency forwards and currency 
swaps used to manage balance sheet currency risks amounted to 
€4,370 million  at  the  reporting  date  (previous  year:  €2,030 mil-
lion);  the  fair  value  was  €42 million  (previous  year:  €–4 million). 
The adjustment to internal Group financing in December 2012 led 
to a temporary year-on-year increase in the notional hedging vol-
ume. For simplification purposes, fair value hedge accounting was 
not applied to the derivatives used, which are reported as trading 
derivatives instead.

Currency  risks  arise  from  planned  foreign  currency  trans-
actions  if  the  future  foreign  currency  transactions  are  settled  at 
exchange  rates  that  differ  from  the  rates  originally  planned  or 
 calculated.  These  currency  risks  are  also  captured  centrally  in 
 Corporate Treasury and managed on a rolling 24-month basis as 
part of a hedging programme. The goal is to hedge an average of 
up to 50 % of all significant currency risks over a 24-month  period. 
This makes it possible to plan reliably and reduce fluctuations in 
earnings  caused  by  currency  movements.  At  the  reporting  date, 
an  average  of  approximately  35 %  of  the  foreign  currency  risk  of 
the currencies  concerned was hedged for the next 24 months. The 
 relevant  hedging trans actions are recognised using cash flow hedge 
 accounting; 

 note 47.3.

In  total,  currency  forwards  and  currency  swaps  with  a  no-
tional  amount  of  €5,976 million  (previous  year:  €3,317 million) 
were outstanding at the balance sheet date. The corresponding fair 
value was €51 million (previous year: €–27 million). At the end of 
the  year  there  were  no  currency  options,  as  in  the  previous  year. 
The Group also held cross-currency swaps with a notional amount 
of  €163 million  (previous  year:  €173 million)  and  a  fair  value  of 
€2 million (previous year €–6 million) to hedge long-term foreign 
currency financing. 

Currency risks resulting from translating assets and liabilities 
of foreign operations into the Group’s currency (translation risk) 
were not hedged as at 31 December 2012. 

Of the unrealised gains or losses  from currency derivatives 
recognised  in  equity  as  at  31 December 2012  in  accordance  with 
IAS 39, €3 million (previous year: €–22 million) is expected to be 
recognised in income in the course of 2013.

IFRS 7 requires the disclosure of quantitative risk data show-
ing how profit or loss and equity are affected by changes in exchange 
rates at the reporting date. The impact of these changes in exchange 
rates on the portfolio of foreign currency financial instruments is 
assessed by means of a value-at-risk calculation (95 % confidence /  
one-month  holding  period).  It  is  assumed  that  the  portfolio  as 
at the reporting date is representative for the full year. Effects of 
 hypothetical changes in exchange rates on trans lation risk do not 
fall within the scope of IFRS 7. The following  assumptions are used 
as a basis for the sensitivity analysis:

Primary financial instruments in foreign currencies used by 
Group  companies  were  hedged  by  Deutsche  Post  AG’s  in-house 
bank,  with  Deutsche  Post  AG  setting  and  guaranteeing  monthly 
exchange  rates.  Exchange  rate-related  changes  therefore  have  no 
effect  on  the  profit  or  loss  and  equity  of  the  Group  companies. 
Where, in individual cases, Group companies are not permitted to 
participate  in  in-house  banking  for  legal  reasons,  their  currency 
risks from primary financial instruments are fully hedged locally 
through the use of derivatives. They therefore have no impact on 
the Group’s risk position. 

194

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

The quantitative risk data relating to interest rate risk  required 
by  IFRS 7  is  presented  in  the  form  of  a  sensitivity  analysis.  This 
method determines the effects of hypothetical changes in market 
interest rates on interest income, interest expense and equity as at 
the reporting date. The following assumptions are used as a basis 
for the sensitivity analysis: 

Primary  variable-rate  financial  instruments  are  subject  to 
interest  rate  risk  and  must  therefore  be  included  in  the  sensitiv-
ity analysis. Primary variable-rate financial instruments that were 
transformed  into  fixed-income  financial  instruments  using  cash 
flow hedges are not included. Changes in market interest rates for 
derivative  financial  instruments  used  as  a  cash  flow  hedge  affect 
 equity by changing fair values and must therefore be included in 
the sensitivity analysis. Fixed-income financial instruments meas-
ured at amortised cost are not subject to interest rate risk.

Designated fair value hedges of interest rate risk are not in-
cluded in the analysis because the interest-related changes in fair 
value of the hedged item and the hedging transaction almost fully 
offset each other in profit or loss for the period. Only the variable 
portion of the hedging instrument affects net financial income / net 
finance costs and must be included in the sensitivity analysis.

If  the  market  interest  rate  level  as  at  31 December 2012 
had  been  100  basis  points  higher,  net  finance  costs  would  have 
 decreased  by  €2 million  (previous  year:  increased  by  €8 million). 
A market interest rate level 100 basis points lower would have had 
the  opposite  effect.  A  change  in  the  market  interest  rate  level  by 
100 basis  points  would  affect  the  fair  values  of  the  interest  rate 
 derivatives recognised in equity. As in the previous year, a rise in 
interest rates in this financial year would not have increased equity, 
nor would a reduction have reduced equity. 

Hypothetical  changes  in  exchange  rates  have  an  effect  on 
the  fair  values  of  Deutsche  Post  AG’s  external  derivatives  that  is 
 reported in profit or loss; they also affect the foreign currency gains 
and losses from remeasurement at the closing date of the in-house 
bank  balances,  balances  from  external  bank  accounts  as  well  as 
 internal and external loans extended by Deutsche Post AG. The for-
eign currency value at risk of the foreign currency items concerned 
was €3 million at the reporting date (previous year: €4 million). In 
addition, hypothetical changes in exchange rates affect equity and 
the fair values of those derivatives used to hedge unrecognised firm 
commitments and highly probable forecast currency transactions, 
which  are  designated  as  cash  flow  hedges.  The  foreign  currency 
value at risk of this risk position was €32 million as at 31 Decem-
ber 2012  (previous  year:  €21 million).  The  total  foreign  currency 
value at risk was €35 million at the reporting date (previous year: 
€23 million). The total amount is lower than the sum of the indi-
vidual amounts given above, owing to interdependencies.

INTEREST RATE RISk AND INTEREST RATE MANAGEMENT

The fair value of interest rate hedging instruments was calcu-
lated on the basis of discounted expected future cash flows using 
Corporate Treasury’s risk management system.

As at 31 December 2012, the Group had entered into interest 
rate swaps with a notional volume of €326 million (previous year: 
€1,005 million).  The  fair  value  of  this  interest  rate  swap  position 
was  €23 million  (previous  year:  €48 million).  As  in  the  previous 
year, there were no interest rate options at the reporting date.

The Group placed further fixed-coupon bonds on the capital 
market in financial year 2012. As a result, the share of instruments 
with  short-term  i nterest  lock-ins  declined  considerably  year-on-
year. The proportion of financial liabilities with short-term interest 
 note 43, amounts to 8 % (previous year: 55 %) as at the 
lock-ins, 
reporting date. The effect of potential interest rate changes on the 
Group’s financial  position thus remains insignificant. 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

195

MARkET RISk

CREDIT RISk

The credit risk incurred by the Group is the risk that counter-
parties fail to meet their obligations arising from operating activ-
ities and from financial transactions. To minimise credit risk from 
financial transactions, the Group only enters into transactions with 
prime-rated counterparties. The Group’s heterogeneous customer 
structure  means  that  there  is  no  risk  concentration.  Each  coun-
terparty is assigned an individual limit, the utilisation of which is 
regularly monitored. A test is performed at the balance sheet dates 
to  establish  whether  an  impairment  loss  needs  to  be  charged  on 
the positive fair values due to the individual counterparties’ credit 
quality.  This  was  not  the  case  for  any  of  the  counterparties  as  at 
31 December 2012.

Default  risks  are  continuously  monitored  in  the  operating 
business.  The  aggregate  carrying  amounts  of  financial  assets  rep-
resent the maximum default risk. Trade receivables amounting to 
€6,418 million (previous year: €6,426 million) are due within one 
year. The following table gives an overview of receivables that are 
past due:

As in the previous year, most of the risks arising from com-
modity price fluctuations, in particular fluctuating prices for kero-
sene and marine diesel fuels, were passed on to customers via oper-
ating measures. However, the impact of the related fuel surcharges 
is delayed by one to two months, so that earnings may be affected 
temporarily if there are significant short-term fuel price variations.
In addition, a small number of commodity swaps for diesel 
and  marine  diesel  fuel  were  used  to  control  residual  risks.  The 
 notional amount of these commodity swaps was €8 million (previ-
ous year: €6 million) with a fair value of €0 million (previous year: 
€1 million).

IFRS 7  requires  the  disclosure  of  a  sensitivity  analysis,  pre-
senting  the  effects  of  hypothetical  commodity  price  changes  on 
profit or loss and equity. 

Changes in commodity prices would affect the fair value of 
the derivatives used to hedge highly probable forecast  commodity 
purchases  (cash  flow  hedges)  and  the  hedging  reserve  in  equity. 
As  in  the  previous  year, a  10 %  increase  in the  commodity  prices 
underlying the derivatives as at the balance sheet date would have 
increased neither fair values nor equity. A corresponding decline in 
commodity prices would also have had no effect.

In  the  interests  of  simplicity,  some  of  the  commodity  price 
hedges were not recognised using cash flow hedge accounting. For 
the derivatives in question, commodity price changes would affect 
both  the  fair  values  of  the  derivatives  and  the  income  statement. 
If  the  underlying  commodity  prices  had  been  10 %  higher  at  the 
 reporting date, this would have increased the fair values in question 
and,  consequently,  operating  profit  by  €0 million  (previous  year: 
€0 million). Nor would a corresponding decline in the commodity 
prices have had any impact.

€ m

Past due and not impaired at the reporting date

Carrying amount 
before  
impairment loss

neither impaired 
nor due at the 
reporting date

less than  
30 days

31 to  
60 days

61 to  
90 days

91 to  
120 days

121 to  
150 days

151 to  
180 days

> 180 days

As at 31 December 2012

trade receivables

As at 31 December 2011

trade receivables

6,634

4,497

764

647

258

103

6,655

4,509

746

680

261

114

44

50

26

38

23

28

196

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

Trade receivables changed as follows:

€ m

Gross receivables

as at 1 January

Changes

As at 31 December

Valuation allowances

as at 1 January

Changes

As at 31 December

Carrying amount as at 31 December

2011

2012

6,242

413

6,655

–231

2

–229

6,426

6,655

–21

6,634

–229

13

–216

6,418

All other financial instruments are neither past due nor im-
paired. The heterogeneous structure of the counterparties prevents 
risk concentration. 

Impairment losses of €45 million (previous year: €44 million) 

were recognised for other assets.

47.2  Collateral

€549 million  (previous  year:  €189 million)  of  collateral  is 
recognised in non-current financial assets as at the balance sheet 
date.  Of  this  amount,  €298 million  relates  to  the  restricted  cash 
transferred to a blocked account with Commerzbank AG for any 
payments that may be required due to the EU state aid proceedings, 
 note 3,  €120 million   primarily  to  liabilities  in  conjunction  with 
the settlement of Deutsche Post AG’s residential building loans, and 
€67 million to sureties paid.

Collateral  of  €49 million  is  recognised  in  current  financial 
 assets (previous year: €170 million). The majority of this concerns 
collateral deposited for QTE leases.

In addition to collateral for QTE leases, the collateral reported 
in  2011  consisted  largely  of  collateral  relating  to  the  sale  of  the 
Deutsche Postbank AG shares held by Deutsche Post AG. Deutsche 
Post  AG  was  required  to  deposit  payments  from  hedging  trans-
actions  that  had  already  been  settled  as  collateral  with  Deutsche 
Bank AG. The collateral deposited was released when the manda-
tory exchangeable bond was exercised in February 2012. 

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

197

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
47.3  Derivative financial instruments

The  following  table  gives  an  overview  of  the  recognised 
deriva tive financial instruments used in the Group and their fair 
values. Derivatives with amortising notional volumes are reported 
in the full amount at maturity.

Derivative financial instruments

€ m

2011

2012

assets

liabilities

Fair values in 2012, by maturity

up 
to 2 
years

up 
to 3 
years

up 
to 4 
years

up 
to 5 
years

> 5 
years

no-
tional 
amount

no-
tional 
amount

Fair 
value

Fair 
value 
of 
 assets

Fair 
value 
of 
liabil-
ities

less 
than 
1 
year

total 
fair 
value

up 
to 2 
years

up 
to 3 
years

up 
to 4 
years

up 
to 5 
years

> 5 
years

Interest rate products

interest rate swaps

1,005

of which cash flow 
hedges

of which fair value 
hedges

of which held for  trading

other

163

842

0

0

1,005

48

16

32

0

0

48

326

163

163

0

0

326

Currency transactions

Currency forwards

1,483

–24

2,918

of which cash flow 
hedges

of which net  
investment hedges

of which held for  trading

Currency options

of which cash flow 
hedges

1,045

–22

1,442

0

438

0

0

0

–2

0

0

0

1,476

0

0

Currency swaps

1,834

–3

3,058

of which cash flow 
hedges

242

of which held for  trading

1,592

Cross-currency swaps

of which cash flow 
hedges

of which fair value 
hedges

of which held for  trading

173

163

10

0

–1

–2

– 6

– 4

–2

0

164

2,894

163

163

0

0

23

13

10

0

0

23

47

32

0

15

0

0

72

3

69

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

– 43

–23

0

–20

0

0

–25

–3

–22

0

0

0

0

23

13

10

0

0

23

4

9

0

– 5

0

0

47

0

47

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

36

21

0

15

0

0

72

3

69

0

0

0

0

23

13

10

0

0

23

11

11

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

2

0

0

3,490

–33

6,139

121

– 68

53

108

13

Commodity price 
 transactions

Commodity price swaps

of which cash flow 
hedges

of which held for  trading

Equity price transactions

6

6

0

1

1

0

equity forwards

2,946

of which held for  trading

2,946

equity options

2,596

of which held for  trading

2,596

1,493

1,493

665

665

5,542

2,158

8

3

5

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

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

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

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

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

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

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

less 
than 
1 
year

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

–38

– 5

–18

– 5

0

–20

0

0

–25

–3

–22

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

– 63

– 5

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

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

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

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

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

0

0

0

198

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

CASH FLOW HEDGES

The  Group  uses  currency  forwards  and  swaps  to  hedge  the 
cash flow risks from future foreign currency operating revenue and 
expenses. The fair values of currency forwards and swaps amounted 
to €–10 million at the reporting date (previous year: €–26 million). 
The hedged items will affect cash flow until 2014.

Currency forwards with a fair value of €0 million (previous 
year:  €–3 million)  as  at  the  reporting  date  were  entered  into  to 
hedge the currency risk of future lease payments denominated in 
foreign currencies. The payments for the hedged items are made in 
instalments, with the final payment due in 2013. 

Risks  arising  from  fixed-interest  foreign  currency  invest-
ments  were  hedged  using  synthetic  cross-currency  swaps,  with 
the investments being transformed into fixed-interest euro invest-
ments. These  synthetic  cross-currency  swaps  hedge  the  currency 
risk, and their fair values at the reporting date amounted to €15 mil-
lion  (previous year: €12 million). 

The risks from the purchase of diesel and marine diesel  fuels, 
which cannot be passed on to customers, were hedged using com-
modity swaps that will affect cash flow in 2013. The fair value of 
these cash flow hedges amounted to €0 million as at year-end (pre-
vious year: €1 million). 

The  forward  and  the  put  and  call  options  on  the  shares  of 
Deutsche Postbank AG were recognised in the equity price trans-
actions  item  in  the  previous  year.  The  options  were  exercised  in 
February 2012.

In  addition  to  those  shown  in  the  table,  there  are  other 
 derivatives  with  a  fair  value  of  €–49 million  (previous  year: 
€–50 million) that are the result of M & A transactions.

FAIR VALUE HEDGES

Interest rate swaps were used to hedge the fair value risk of 
fixed-interest euro-denominated liabilities. The fair values of these 
interest rate swaps amount to €10 million (previous year: €32 mil-
lion). As at 31 December 2012, there was also a €7 million (previous 
year: €13 million) adjustment to the carrying amount of the under-
lying  hedged  item  arising  from  an  interest  rate  swap   unwound 
in the past. The adjustment to the carrying amount is amortised 
over the remaining term of the liability using the  effective interest 
method, and reduces future interest expense.

The cross-currency swaps existing at 31 December 2011 (fair 

value in previous year: €–2 million) expired in 2012, as planned.

The  following  table  gives  an  overview  of  the  gains  and 
losses  arising  from  the  hedged  items  and  the  respective  hedging 
transactions:

Ineffective portion of fair value hedges

€ m

gains (+) on hedged items

losses (–) on hedging transactions

Balance (ineffective portion)

2011

19

–21

–2

2012

1

–1

0

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

199

 
 
47.4  Additional disclosures on the financial instruments  

used in the Group

The Group classifies financial instruments equivalent to the 
respective balance sheet items. The following table reconciles the 
classes  to  the  categories  given  in  IAS 39  and  the  respective  fair 
values:

Reconciliation of carrying amounts in the balance sheet as at 31 December 2012

€ m

Carrying amount

Carrying amount by measurement category in accordance with IAS 39

Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

available-for-sale financial assets

trading

Fair value option

ASSETS

non-current financial assets

at cost

at fair value

other non-current assets 

outside IFRS 7

receivables and other current 
assets

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Current financial assets 

at cost

at fair value

Cash and cash equivalents

Total ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

non-current financial liabilities 1

at cost

at fair value

other non-current liabilities

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Current financial liabilities 

at cost

at fair value

trade payables 

other current liabilities

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Total EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

1,039

866

173

633

633

9,112

7,852

1,260

252

119

133

2,400

13,436

4,413

4,405

8

276

149

127

403

294

109

5,991

4,004

398

3,606

15,087

0

0

0

0

0

0

85

0

85

0

3

0

0

0

88

0

0

0

91

0

79

0

0

0

0

0

0

79

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

104

58

0

0

0

0

24

0

186

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1  a portion of the bond issued by Deutsche Post Finance B. V. with a principal amount of €926 million and included in non-current financial liabilities was designated as a hedged item  
in a fair value hedge and is thus subject to a basis adjustment. the bond is therefore recognised neither at full fair value nor at amortised cost. non-current financial liabilities also  
include the convertible bond issued by Deutsche Post AG in December 2012. the listed bond had a fair value of €1,049 million at the balance sheet date. a fair value of €929 million was  
reported for the debt component at the balance sheet date. 

200

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

loans and receivables /  

other financial liabilities

Held-to-maturity assets

Derivatives designated  

as hedging instruments

lease receivables /   

finance lease liabilities

other financial instruments  

outside the scope of IAS 39

Fair value of financial  

instruments under IFRS 7

737

0

0

0

7,852

77

0

2,400

11,066

4,282

0

149

0

268

0

5,991

398

0

11,088

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

36

0

0

0

0

24

0

60

0

5

0

0

21

0

0

0

0

26

25

0

0

0

0

42

0

0

67

26

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

123

149

866

173

0

0

7,852

119

133

2,400

–

4,405

8

149

0

294

109

5,991

398

0

–

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

Reconciliation of carrying amounts in the balance sheet as at 31 December 2012

€ m

Carrying amount

Carrying amount by measurement category in accordance with IAS 39

Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

available-for-sale financial assets

trading

Fair value option

loans and receivables /  
other financial liabilities

Held-to-maturity assets

Derivatives designated  
as hedging instruments

lease receivables /   
finance lease liabilities

other financial instruments  
outside the scope of IAS 39

Fair value of financial  
instruments under IFRS 7

ASSETS

non-current financial assets

at cost

at fair value

other non-current assets 

outside IFRS 7

receivables and other current 

assets

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Current financial assets 

at cost

at fair value

Cash and cash equivalents

Total ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

non-current financial liabilities 1

other non-current liabilities

at cost

at fair value

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Current financial liabilities 

at cost

at fair value

trade payables 

other current liabilities

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Total EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

1,039

866

173

633

633

9,112

7,852

1,260

252

119

133

2,400

13,436

4,413

4,405

8

276

149

127

403

294

109

5,991

4,004

398

3,606

15,087

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

85

85

88

0

0

0

0

91

0

79

79

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

104

58

24

186

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1  a portion of the bond issued by Deutsche Post Finance B. V. with a principal amount of €926 million and included in non-current financial liabilities was designated as a hedged item  

in a fair value hedge and is thus subject to a basis adjustment. the bond is therefore recognised neither at full fair value nor at amortised cost. non-current financial liabilities also  

include the convertible bond issued by Deutsche Post AG in December 2012. the listed bond had a fair value of €1,049 million at the balance sheet date. a fair value of €929 million was   

reported for the debt component at the balance sheet date. 

737

0

0

7,852

0

77

0

2,400

11,066

4,282

0

149

0

268

0

5,991

398

0

11,088

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

36

0

0

0

0

24

0

60

0

5

0

0

0

21

0

0

0

26

25

0

0

0

0

42

0

0

67

123

0

0

0

26

0

0

0

0

149

866

173

0

7,852

0

119

133

2,400

–

4,405

8

149

0

294

109

5,991

398

0

–

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

201

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of carrying amounts in the balance sheet as at 31 December 2011

€ m

Carrying amount

Carrying amount by measurement category in accordance with IAS 39

Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

available-for-sale financial assets

trading

Fair value option

loans and receivables /  

other financial liabilities

Held-to-maturity assets

Derivatives designated  

as hedging instruments

lease receivables /   

finance lease liabilities

other financial instruments  

outside the scope of IAS 39

Fair value of financial  

instruments under IFRS 7

ASSETS

non-current financial assets

at cost

at fair value

other non-current assets 

outside IFRS 7

receivables and other current 
assets

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Current financial assets 

at cost

at fair value

Cash and cash equivalents

Total ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

non-current financial liabilities 1

at cost

at fair value

other non-current liabilities

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Current financial liabilities 

at cost

at fair value

trade payables 

other current liabilities

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Total EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

729

566

163

570

570

9,089

7,685

1,404

2,498

256

2,242

3,123

16,009

1,366

1,355

11

347

221

126

5,644

5,518

126

6,168

4,106

317

3,789

17,631

0

0

0

0

0

0

2,191

0

2,191

0

6

0

0

0

82

0

0

0

88

0

68

0

0

0

0

0

0

68

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

103

69

0

0

0

0

8

0

180

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1  some of the bonds included in financial liabilities were designated as a hedged item in a fair value hedge and are thus subject to a basis adjustment. they are therefore recognised neither  

at full fair value nor at amortised cost.

No assets were reclassified in financial years 2012 and 2011. 

428

0

0

0

7,685

215

0

3,123

11,451

1,207

0

221

0

5,491

0

6,168

317

0

13,404

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

26

0

0

0

43

0

0

69

0

5

0

0

0

44

0

0

0

49

35

0

0

0

0

41

0

0

76

27

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

148

175

566

163

0

0

7,685

256

2,242

3,123

–

1,355

11

221

0

5,518

126

6,168

317

0

–

202

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of carrying amounts in the balance sheet as at 31 December 2011

€ m

Carrying amount

Carrying amount by measurement category in accordance with IAS 39

Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

available-for-sale financial assets

trading

Fair value option

loans and receivables /  
other financial liabilities

Held-to-maturity assets

Derivatives designated  
as hedging instruments

lease receivables /   
finance lease liabilities

other financial instruments  
outside the scope of IAS 39

Fair value of financial  
instruments under IFRS 7

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

ASSETS

non-current financial assets

at cost

at fair value

other non-current assets 

outside IFRS 7

receivables and other current 

assets

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Current financial assets 

at cost

at fair value

Cash and cash equivalents

Total ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

non-current financial liabilities 1

other non-current liabilities

at cost

at fair value

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Current financial liabilities 

at cost

at fair value

trade payables 

other current liabilities

at cost

outside IFRS 7

Total EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

729

566

163

570

570

9,089

7,685

1,404

2,498

256

2,242

3,123

16,009

1,366

1,355

11

347

221

126

5,644

5,518

126

6,168

4,106

317

3,789

17,631

2,191

2,191

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

0

0

0

82

0

0

0

88

68

180

0

68

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

103

69

0

0

0

0

8

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1  some of the bonds included in financial liabilities were designated as a hedged item in a fair value hedge and are thus subject to a basis adjustment. they are therefore recognised neither  

at full fair value nor at amortised cost.

428

0

0

7,685

0

215

0

3,123

11,451

1,207

0

221

0

5,491

0

6,168

317

0

13,404

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

26

0

0

0

0

43

0

69

0

5

0

0

0

44

0

0

0

49

35

0

0

0

0

41

0

0

76

148

0

0

0

27

0

0

0

0

175

566

163

0

7,685

0

256

2,242

3,123

–

1,355

11

221

0

5,518

126

6,168

317

0

–

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

203

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If  there  is  an  active  market  for  a  financial  instrument  (e. g., 
stock  exchange),  the  fair  value  is  determined  by  reference  to  the 
market or quoted exchange price at the balance sheet date. If no fair 
value is available in an active market, the quoted prices in an active 
market for similar instruments or recognised valuation techniques 
are  used  to  determine  the  fair  value.  The  valuation  techniques 
used incorporate the key factors determining the fair value of the 
financial instruments using valuation parameters that are derived 
from  the  market  conditions  as  at  the  balance  sheet  date.  Coun-
terparty risk is analysed on the basis of the current credit default 
swaps signed by the counterparties. The fair values of other non-
current  receivables  and  held-to-maturity  financial  investments 
with  remaining  maturities  of  more  than  one  year  correspond  to 
the present values of the payments related to the assets, taking into 
 account current interest rate parameters.

Cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and other receiv-
ables have predominantly short remaining maturities. As a result, 
their carrying amounts as at the reporting date are approximately 
equivalent to their fair values. Trade payables and other liabilities 
generally have short remaining maturities; the recognised amounts 
approximately represent their fair values. 

Available-for-sale  financial  assets  include  shares  in  partner-
ships  and  corporations  in  the  amount  of  €104 million  (previous 
year:  €103 million).  There  is  no  active  market  for  these  instru-
ments.  As  no  future  cash  flows  can  be  reliably  determined,  the 
fair values cannot be determined using valuation techniques. The 
shares of these entities are recognised at cost. There are no plans to 
sell or derecognise significant shares of the available-for-sale finan-
cial assets recognised as at 31 December 2012 in the near future. As 
in the previous year, no significant shares measured at cost were 
sold in the financial year. Available-for-sale financial assets meas-
ured at fair value relate to equity and debt instruments. 

Financial  assets  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  include 
 securities to which the fair value option was applied, in order to 
avoid  accounting  inconsistencies.  There  is  an  active  market  for 
these assets, which are recognised at fair value. 

The following table presents the methods used to determine 

the fair value for each class:

Financial assets and liabilities, 2012

€ m

level

Class

non-current financial assets 
at fair value

Current financial assets  
at fair value

non-current financial  
liabilities at fair value

Current financial liabilities  
at fair value

1

2

3

Measurement 
using key  
inputs based 
on observable 
market data

Measurement 
using key inputs 
not based  
on observable 
market data

Quoted  
market prices

137

24

0

0

36

109

5

63

0

0

3

46

The  fair  value  of  currency  forwards  was  measured  on  the 
 basis of discounted expected future cash flows, taking forward rates 
on the foreign exchange market into account. The currency options 
were measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

Level 2 includes commodity, interest rate and currency deriva-
tives. Level 3 mainly comprises options entered into in connection 
with intercompany transactions. These options are measured  using 
recognised  valuation  models,  taking  plausible  assumptions  into 
 account; measurement depends largely on financial ratios. Gains of 
€5 million from the change in fair value impacted net finance costs 
in 2012; 

 note 17.

Financial assets and liabilities, 2011

€ m

level

Class

non-current financial assets 
at fair value

Current financial assets  
at fair value

non-current financial 
 liabilities at fair value

Current financial liabilities  
at fair value

1

2

3

Measurement 
using key  
inputs based 
on observable 
market data

Measurement 
using key inputs 
not based  
on observable 
market data

Quoted  
market prices

137

8

0

0

26

2,234

5

82

0

0

6

44

204

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

The net gains and losses on financial instruments classified in 
accordance with the individual measurement categories in IAS 39 
are as follows:

Net gains and losses by measurement category

€ m

loans and receivables

Financial assets and liabilities at fair value  
through profit or loss

trading

Fair value option

other financial liabilities

2011

– 94

231

–1

1

2012

–111

–337

0

2

The  net  gains  and  losses  mainly  include  the  effects  of  the 
fair  value  measurement,  impairment  and  disposals  (disposal 
gains / losses) of financial instruments. In financial years 2012 and 
2011,  the  measurement  of  the  forward  and  the  options   entered 
into  to  transfer  the  remaining  Postbank  shares  had  a  material 
 effect  on  net  gains  and  losses.  Dividends  and  interest  are  not 
taken into  account for the financial instruments measured at fair 
value  through  profit  or  loss.  Disclosures  on  net  gains  or  losses 
 note 37. 
on  available- for-sale  financial  assets  can  be  found  in 
 Income and expenses from interest and commission agreements 
of the   financial  instruments  not  measured  at  fair  value  through 
profit or loss are explained in the income statement disclosures.

49  Other financial obligations

In addition to provisions, liabilities and contingent liabilities, 
there are other financial obligations amounting to €6,325 million 
(previous  year:  €6,625 million)  from  non-cancellable  operating 
leases as defined by IAS 17.

The  Group’s  future  non-cancellable  payment  obligations 

 under leases are attributable to the following asset classes:

Lease obligations

€ m

land and buildings

aircraft

transport equipment

technical equipment and machinery

other equipment, operating and office equipment

IT equipment

Lease obligations

2011

5,294

765

443

80

31

12

2012

5,100

647

450

65

48

15

6,625

6,325

The  decrease  in 

lease  obligations  by  €300 million  to 
€6,325 million is a consequence of the reduction in the remaining 
terms  of  legacy  agreements,  especially  for  real  estate  and  aircraft 
which, in the main, are not matched by the same volume of new 
leases.

Maturity structure of minimum lease payments

48  Contingent liabilities

The  Group’s  contingent 

liabilities  total  €1,135 million 
( pre vious year:  €2,767 million).  €22 million  of  the  contingent 
 liabilities relates to guarantee obligations (previous year: €24 mil-
lion),  €103 million  to  warranties  (previous  year:  €119 million) 
and  €130 million  to   liabilities  from  litigation  risks  (previous 
year:  €125 million).  The  other  contingent  liabilities  declined 
by  €1,619 million,  from  €2,499 million  in  the  previous  year  to 
€880 million. Following the additional VAT payment of €482 mil-
 note 3,  this  tax  item  was  no  longer  recognised  as  a  con-
lion, 
tingent  liability.  In  addition,  as  more   information  was  available, 
the  existing  obligation  from  a   formal  state  aid  investigation  was 
 reassessed and the amount of the obligation was reduced.

€ m

less than 1 year

More than 1 year to 2 years

More than 2 years to 3 years

More than 3 years to 4 years

More than 4 years to 5 years

More than 5 years

2011

1,479

1,100

867

668

526

1,985

6,625

2012

1,504

1,107

837

642

500

1,735

6,325

The present value of discounted minimum lease payments is 
€5,156 million (previous year: €5,003 million), based on a discount 
factor of 4.75 % (previous year: 6.50 %). Overall, rental and lease pay-
ments amounted to €2,529 million (previous year: €2,364 million), 
of which €1,730 million (previous year: €1,640 million) relates to 
non-cancellable  leases.  €2,255 million  (previous  year:  €2,526 mil-
lion)  of  future  lease  obligations  from  non-cancellable  leases  is 
 primarily attributable to Deutsche Post Immobilien GmbH.

The purchase obligation for investments in non-current  assets 

amounts to €125 million (previous year: €90 million).

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

205

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
50  Litigation

A large number of the services rendered by Deutsche Post AG 
and  its  subsidiaries  are  subject  to  sector-specific  regulation  by 
the  Bundes netzagentur  (German  federal  network  agency)  pursu-
ant to the Postgesetz (German Postal Act). The Bundesnetzagentur 
 approves  or  reviews  prices,  formulates  the  terms  of  downstream 
access and has special supervisory powers to combat market abuse. 
This  general regulatory risk could lead to a decline in revenue and 
earnings in the event of negative decisions.

Legal risks arise, amongst other things,  from  appeals by an 
association and a competitor against the price approvals under the 
price  cap  procedure  for  2003,  2004  and  2005,  and  by  the  asso-
ciation  against  the  price  approval  under  the  price  cap  procedure 
for  2008.  Although  the  appeals  by  the  association  against  price 
 approvals  for  the  years  2003  to  2005  were  finally  dismissed  by 
the Münster Higher Administrative Court, they are now, however, 
being continued in the Münster Higher Administrative Court, as 
the  court  of  second  instance,  due  to  a  successful  constitutional 
complaint.

Legal  risks  also  result  from  appeals  by  Deutsche  Post AG 

against other price approvals granted by the regulatory authority. 

Deutsche  Post  AG  increased  its  discounts  for  downstream 
access  on  1 July 2010.  Deutsche  Post  competitors  and  their  asso-
ciations filed complaints against these discount increases with the 
Bundesnetzagentur.  They  claim  that  the  increased  discounts  con-
flict,  in  particular,  with  regulatory  requirements.  However,  the 
Bundesnetzagentur discontinued its review proceedings by way of a 
notification of 15 September 2010 after having found no violation 
of the applicable regulations. In October 2011, several competitors 
of Deutsche Post AG brought an action in the Cologne Administra-
tive Court against the Bundesnetzagentur with the aim of reversing 
the discount increases. Deutsche Post AG considers its charges for 
downstream access and the discount increases to be in compliance 
with  the  regulatory  and  other  legal  requirements.  However,  no 
 assurance can be given that the courts will not come to a different 
conclusion that would have negative effects on Deutsche Post AG’s 
revenue and earnings. 

In  its  decision  dated  14 June 2011,  the  Bundesnetz agentur 
 concluded  that  First  Mail  Düsseldorf  GmbH,  a  subsidiary  of 
Deutsche  Post  AG,  and  Deutsche  Post  AG  had  contravened  the 
discounting and discrimination prohibitions under the Postgesetz. 
The  companies  were  instructed  to  remedy  the  breaches  that  had 
been identified. Both companies appealed against the ruling to the 
 Cologne  Administrative  Court.  Furthermore,  First  Mail  Düssel-
dorf  GmbH  filed  an  application  to  suspend  the  execution  of  the 
ruling  until  a  decision  was  reached  in  the  principal  proceedings. 
The   Cologne  Administrative  Court  and  the  Münster  Higher 
 Administrative  Court  both  dismissed  this  application.  First  Mail 
Düsseldorf  GmbH  discontinued  its  mail  delivery  operations  at 
the  end  of  2011  and  retracted  its  appeal  on  19 December 2011. 
Deutsche Post AG continues to pursue its  appeal against the Bundes-
netzagentur ruling.

In  its  ruling  of  30 April 2012,  the  Bundesnetzagentur  deter-
mined that Deutsche Post AG had contravened the  discrimination 
provisions under the Postgesetz by charging different fees for the 
transport  of  identical  invoices  and  invoices  containing   different 
amounts. Deutsche Post AG was requested to discontinue the dis-
crimination determined immediately, but no later than 31 Decem-
ber  2012.  Deutsche  Post  does  not  share  the  legal  opinion  of  the 
Bundesnetz agentur  and  appealed  the  ruling  to  the  Cologne 
 Administrative Court.

The  European  Commission’s  state  aid  ruling  of  25 Janu-
ary 2012 concluded the formal investigation that it had initiated on 
12 September 2007. The investigation focused on whether the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany, using state resources, overcompensated 
Deutsche  Post  AG  or  its  legal  predecessor  Deutsche  Bundespost 
POSTDIENST for the cost of providing universal services between 
1989 and 2007 and whether the company was thereby granted state 
aid incompatible with EU law. According to the decision opening 
the investigation, the Commission intended to examine all public 
transfers,  public  guarantees,  statutorily  granted  exclusive  rights, 
the  price  regulation  of  letter  services  and  the  public  funding  of 
civil servants’ pensions during the period in question. Also to be 
investigated was the cost allocation within Deutsche Post AG and 
its predecessor between the regulated letter service, the universal 
service and competitive services. This also relates to co-operation 
agreements between Deutsche Post AG and Deutsche Postbank AG 
as well as between Deutsche Post AG and the business parcel ser-
vice marketed by DHL Vertriebs GmbH. The Monopol kommission 
(German  Monopoly  Commission)  had  also  previously  alleged 
that  Deutsche  Post  AG  permits  Deutsche  Postbank  AG  to  use  its 
retail outlets at below-market rates, and that in so doing it contra-
venes the prohibition on state aid enshrined in the EC Treaty. The 
 Euro pean Commission extended its official state aid proceedings 
on  10 May 2011.  The  extension  concerned  the  funding  arrange-
ments for civil servants’ pensions, which were to be examined more 
closely,  including  the  pension  obligations  factored  into  the  price 
approval process. 

In  its  state  aid  ruling  of  25 January 2012,  the  European 
 Commission  concluded  that  Deutsche  Post  AG  and  its  predeces-
sor, Deutsche Bundespost POSTDIENST, did not receive any exces-
sive state funding for the universal services provided in the years 
1989  to  2007  and  that  therefore  no  incompatible  state  aid  was 
granted.  Equally,  the  European  Commission  found  no   evidence 
of  illegal  state  aid  with  respect  to  the  guarantees  issued  by  the 
 German state. It also did not find fault with the  co-operation agree-
ments   between  Deutsche  Post  AG  and  Deutsche  Postbank  AG, 
and   between  Deutsche  Post  AG  and  DHL  Vertriebs  GmbH.  The 
European   Commission  did  not  revisit  the  1999  sale  of  shares  of 
Deutsche   Postbank  AG  to  Deutsche  Post  AG  in  its  ruling.  How-
ever,  in  its  review  of  the  funding  of  civil  servants’  pensions,  the 
 European   Commission  concluded  that  Deutsche  Post  AG  had 
 received illegal state aid in this area. It said that the pension  relief 
granted to Deutsche Post AG by the Bundesnetzagentur during the 

206

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

price  approval process led to Deutsche Post AG having to pay lower 
social security contributions for civil servants than its competitors 
pay  for  salaried  employees.  According  to  the   Commission,  this 
benefit represents illegal state aid that must be repaid by Deutsche 
Post AG to the Federal Republic of Germany. The precise amount 
has  to  be  calculated  by  the  Federal  Republic.  In  a  press  release, 
the European Commission had referred to an amount of between 
€500 million  and  €1 billion.  Deutsche  Post  AG  is  of  the  opinion 
that  the  European  Commission’s  state  aid  decision  cannot  with-
stand legal review and submitted an appeal to the European Court 
of Justice in Luxembourg. The Federal Republic of Germany like-
wise appealed the decision.

To implement the state aid ruling, the federal government on 
29 May 2012 called upon Deutsche Post AG to make a payment of 
€298 million including interest. Deutsche Post AG paid this amount 
to a trustee on 1 June 2012 and appealed the recovery order. The 
payment made was reported solely in the balance sheet under non-
current assets, the earnings position remained unaffected.

The European Commission has thus far not expressed its final 
acceptance of the calculation of the state aid to be repaid. It can-
not be ruled out that Deutsche Post AG will be required to make a 
higher payment.

On 5 November 2012, the Bundeskartellamt (German federal 
cartel office) initiated proceedings against Deutsche Post AG based 
on suspicion of abusive behaviour with respect to agreements on 
mail  transport  with   major  customers.  Based  upon  information 
from  Deutsche  Post  AG’s   competitors,  the  authorities  initially 
 suspected that the company had violated the provisions of  German 
and European antitrust law. Deutsche Post AG does not share this 
opinion.  However,  should  the  authorities  find  their  suspicions 
 confirmed,  they  may  require  Deutsche  Post  AG  to  refrain  from 
 certain acts, or impose fines.

In October 2007 DHL Global Forwarding, along with all other 
major players in the freight forwarding industry, received a request 
for  information  from  the  Competition  Directorate  of  the  Euro-
pean Commission, a subpoena from the United States  Department 
of  Justice’s  Antitrust  Division  and  requests  for  information  from 
competition authorities in other jurisdictions in  connection with 
a formal investigation into the setting of surcharges and fees in the 
international freight forwarding industry. In the US   investigation 
 confirmed 
and  the 
the   amnesty  for  DHL  based  on  its  early  co-operation  with  the 
 authorities;  no  fine  was  imposed  against  Deutsche  Post  DHL.  In 
 January 2008,  an  antitrust  class  action  was  initiated  in  the  New 
York  District  Court  on   behalf  of  purchasers  of  freight  forward-
ing  services  in  which  Deutsche  Post AG  and  DHL  are  named  as 
 defendants. Deutsche Post DHL is not able to comment on the out-
come of the remaining investigations in other jurisdictions or the 
prospects of the class action, but believes its financial exposure in 
relation to both is limited.

investigation,  the  authorities 

 European 

Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

51  Share-based payment

Share-based payment for executives (Share Matching Scheme)

The new system to grant variable remuneration components 
for some of the Group’s executives introduced in 2009, which is 
 accounted for as an equity-settled share-based payment transaction 
in accordance with IFRS 2, was extended to include other groups of 
Group  executives  in  2010.  Under  this  system,  certain  executives 
receive  part  of  their  variable  remuneration  for  the  financial  year 
in  the  form  of  shares  of  Deutsche  Post  AG  in  the  following  year 
(incentive  shares);  all  Group  executives  can  specify  an  increased 
equity  component  individually  by  converting  a  further  portion 
of  their  variable  remuneration  for  the  financial  year  (investment 
shares). If certain conditions are met, the executive will again be 
awarded the same number of Deutsche Post AG shares four years 
later (matching shares).

Share Matching Scheme

grant date

term

end of term

share price at 
grant date

2009  
tranche

2010  
tranche

2011  
tranche

2012  
tranche

1 nov. 2009

1 Jan. 2010

1 Jan. 2011  1 Jan. 2012 

months

53

63

63

63

  March 2014 March 2015 March 2016 March 2017

€

11.48

13.98

12.90

12.13

number of 
 incentive shares

in 
 thousands

number of 
matching shares 
expected

in 
 thousands

430

638

659

549

762

1,674

1,704

1,503

In  the  consolidated  financial  statements  as  at  31 Decem-
ber 2012, €34 million (previous year: €33 million) was recognised 
in  equity  for  the  granting  of  variable  remuneration  components; 

 note 37.1. 

Stock Appreciation Rights (SAR) Plan for executives

Since  3 July 2006,  selected  executives  have  received  annual 
tranches of SAR s under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. This  allows 
them  to  receive  a  cash  payment  within  a  defined  period  in  the 
amount of the difference between the respective price of Deutsche 
Post  shares  and  the  fixed  issue  price  if  demanding  performance 
 targets  are  met.  All  SAR s  under  the  2006  and  2007  tranches 
 expired  at  the  end  of  the  respective  waiting  periods,  since  the 
performance  targets  were  not  met.  After  the  expiry  of  the  wait-
ing  period  for  the  2008  tranche  on  30 June 2011,  two-sixths  of 
the SAR s granted  became exercisable. However, they could not be 
 exercised so far  because the share price has not yet exceeded the 
issue price of €18.40. The exercise period for these SAR s will end 
on 30 June 2013. Since the waiting period was extended from three 
to four years in 2009, no waiting period was completed for any of 
the tranches in 2012.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

207

 
 
 
 
Long-Term Incentive Plan (2006 LTIP) for members of the Board 
of Management

Since 1 July 2006, the members of the Board of Management 
receive SAR s under the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Each SAR 
under  the  2006  LTIP  entitles  the  holder  to  receive  a  cash  settle-
ment equal to the difference between the average closing price of 
Deutsche Post shares during the last five trading days before the 
exercise date and the issue price of the SAR.

The  members  of  the  Board  of  Management  each  invested 
10 % of their fixed annual remuneration (annual base salary) as a 
personal financial investment in 2012. The number of SAR s issued 
to  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Management  is  determined  by 
the  Supervisory Board. Following a four-year waiting period that 
 begins on the issue date, the SAR s granted can be fully or partly 
exercised  within  a  period  of  two  years  provided  an  absolute  or 
relative  performance  target  is  achieved  at  the  end  of  the  waiting 
period. Any SAR s not exercised during this two-year period will 
expire. To determine how many – if any – of the granted SAR s can 
be  exercised, the average share price or the average index is com-

pared  for  the  reference  period  and  the  performance  period.  The 
 reference  period  comprises  the  last  20  consecutive  trading  days 
before the issue date. The performance period is the last 60 trading 
days   before  the  end  of  the  waiting  period.  The  average  (closing) 
price  is  calculated  as  the  average  closing  price  of  Deutsche  Post 
shares in Deutsche Börse AG’s Xetra trading system.

The absolute performance target is met if the closing price of 
Deutsche Post shares is at least 10, 15, 20 or 25 % above the issue 
price. The relative performance target is tied to the performance 
of  the  shares  in  relation  to  the  STOXX  Europe  600  Index  (SXXP, 
ISIN EU0009658202). It is met if the share price equals the index 
 performance or if it outperforms the index by at least 10 %.

A  maximum  of  four  out  of  every  six  SAR s  can  be  “earned” 
via  the  absolute  performance  target,  and  a  maximum  of  two  via 
the relative performance target. If neither an absolute nor a relative 
performance  target  is  met  by  the  end  of  the  waiting  period,  the 
SAR s attributable to the related tranche will expire without replace-
ment or compensation. More details on the 2006 LTIP tranches are 
shown in the following table:

2006 LTIP

SAR s

issue date

issue price in €

Waiting period expires

2008 tranche

2009 tranche

2010 tranche

2011 tranche

2012 tranche

1 July 2008

1 July 2009

1 July 2010

1 July 2011

1 July 2012

18.40

9.52

12.27

12.67

13.26

30 June 2011

30 June 2013

30 June 2014

30 June 2015

30 June 2016

The fair value of the SAR Plan and the Long-Term  Incentive 
Plan  (2006  LTIP)  was  determined  using  a  stochastic  simulation 
model. As a result, an  expense of €143 million was recognised for 
financial year 2012 (previous year: €24 million). 

See 

 note 52.2  for  further  disclosures  on  share-based  pay-
ment for members of the Board of Management. A provision for the 
2006 LTIP and the SAR Plan was recognised as at the balance sheet 
date in the amount of €203 million (previous year: €61 million), of 
which €25 million was attributable to the Board of Management.

Deutsche  Post  AG  maintains  a  variety  of  relationships  with 
the Federal Republic of Germany and other companies controlled 
by the Federal Republic of Germany. 

The  federal  government  is  a  customer  of  Deutsche  Post  AG 
and  as  such  uses  the  company’s  services.  Deutsche  Post  AG  has 
 direct business relationships with the individual public authorities 
and other government agencies as independent individual custom-
ers. The services provided for these customers are insignificant in 
respect of Deutsche Post AG’s overall revenue.

52  Related party disclosures

52.1  Related party disclosures (companies and Federal Republic 

of Germany)

All companies classified as related parties that are controlled 
by the Group or on which the Group can exercise significant influ-
ence are recorded in the list of shareholdings, which can be accessed 
on the website, www.dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html, together with 
information on the equity interest held, their equity and their net 
profit or loss for the period, broken down by geographical areas.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH kFW BANkENGRUPPE

KfW Bankengruppe (KfW) supports the federal government 
in  continuing  to  privatise  companies  such  as  Deutsche  Post  AG 
or Deutsche Telekom AG. In 1997, KfW, together with the federal 
government, developed a “placeholder model” as a tool to privatise 
government-owned companies. Under this model, the federal gov-
ernment sells all or part of its investments to KfW with the aim of 
fully privatising these state-owned companies. On this basis, KfW 
has  purchased  shares  of  Deutsche  Post  AG  from  the  federal  gov-
ernment in several stages since 1997 and executed various capital 
market transactions using these shares. KfW placed a 5 %  package 
of  Deutsche  Post  AG  shares  on  the  market  at  the  beginning  of 
September 2012, reducing its interest in Deutsche Post AG’s share 
capital. KfW’s current interest in Deutsche Post AG’s share capital 
is 25.5 %. Deutsche Post AG is thus considered to be an associate of 
the federal government.

208

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BUNDESANSTALT FüR POST  
UND TELEkOMMUNIkATION

RELATIONSHIPS WITH DEUTSCHE TELEkOM AG  
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

The  federal  government  holds  around  32 %  of  the  shares  of 
Deutsche  Telekom  AG  directly  and  indirectly  (via  KfW  Banken-
gruppe). A control relationship exists between Deutsche  Telekom 
and  the  federal  government  because  the  federal  government, 
 despite  its  non-controlling  interest,  has  a  secure  majority  at 
the   Annual  General  Meeting  due  to  its  average  presence  there. 
Deutsche  Telekom  is  therefore  a  related  party  of  Deutsche  Post 
AG.  In  financial  year  2012,  Deutsche  Post  DHL  provided  goods 
and services (mainly transport services for letters and parcels) for 
Deutsche Telekom AG and purchased goods and services (such as 
IT products) from Deutsche Telekom.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH DEUTSCHE BAHN AG  
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

Deutsche Bahn AG is wholly owned by the German govern-
ment. Owing to this control relationship, Deutsche Bahn AG is a 
related party to Deutsche Post AG. Deutsche Post DHL has  various 
business  relationships  with  the  Deutsche  Bahn  Group.  These 
mainly consist of transport service agreements.

BUNDES-PENSIONS-SERVICE FüR POST  
UND TELEkOMMUNIkATION E. V.

Information  on  the  Bundes-Pensions-Service  für  Post-  und 

Telekommunikation e. V. (BPS-PT) can be found in 

 note 6.

RELATIONSHIP WITH PENSION FUNDS

The real estate with a fair value of €995 million (previous year: 
€1,011 million), of which Deutsche Post Betriebsrenten Service e. V. 
(DPRS) and / or Deutsche Post Pensions- Treuhand GmbH & Co. KG, 
Deutsche Post Betriebsrenten-Service e. V. & Co. Objekt  Gronau KG 
and  Deutsche  Post  Grundstücks- Vermietungsgesellschaft  beta 
mbH  Objekt  Leipzig  KG  are  the  legal  or  beneficial  owners,  is 
 exclusively let to Deutsche Post  Immobilien GmbH. Rental  expense 
for Deutsche Post Immobilien GmbH amounted to €65 million in 
2012  (previous  year:  €64 million).  The  rent  was  always  paid  on 
time.  Deutsche  Post  Pensions-Treuhand  GmbH & Co. KG  owns 
100 % of Deutsche Post Pensionsfonds AG, which was established at 
the end of 2009. No receivables or liabilities were due as at 31 De-
cember 2012. There were no sales relationships between external 
funds and a Group company of Deutsche Post AG in 2012.

The  Bundesanstalt 

für  Post  und  Telekommunikation 
 (BAnstPT)  is  a  government  agency  and  falls  under  the  technical 
and legal supervision of the German Federal Ministry of  Finance. 
Under  the  Bundesanstalt-Reorganisationsgesetz  (German  Federal 
Agency Reorganisation Act), which entered into force on 1 Decem-
ber 2005,  the  Federal  Republic  of  Germany  directly  undertakes 
the  tasks  relating  to  holdings  in  Deutsche  Bundespost  successor 
 companies  through  the  Federal  Ministry  of  Finance.  It  is  there-
fore  no  longer  necessary  for  the  BAnstPT  to  perform  the  “tasks 
 associated  with  ownership”.  The  BAnstPT  manages  the  social 
facilities  such  as  the  Postal  Civil  Service  Health  Insurance  Fund, 
the   recreation  programme,  the  Versorgungsanstalt  der  Deutschen 
Bundespost  (VAP)  and  the  welfare  service  for  Deutsche  Post  AG, 
Deutsche  Postbank  AG  and  Deutsche  Telekom  AG,  as  well  as 
 setting the objectives for social housing. The tasks are performed 
on the basis of agency agreements. In 2012, Deutsche Post AG was 
 invoiced for €70 million (previous year: €70 million) in instalment 
payments relating to services provided by the BAnstPT.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE GERMAN FEDERAL MINISTRY  
OF FINANCE

In  financial  year  2001,  the  German  Federal  Ministry  of 
 Finance  and  Deutsche  Post  AG  entered  into  an  agreement  that 
 governs the terms and conditions of the transfer of income  received 
by Deutsche Post AG from the levying of the settlement payment 
under  the  Gesetze  über  den  Abbau  der  Fehlsubventionierung  im 
Wohnungs wesen  (German  Acts  on  the  Reduction  of   Misdirected 
Housing  Subsidies)  relating  to  housing  benefits  granted  by 
Deutsche  Post  AG.  Deutsche  Post  AG  transfers  the  amounts  to 
the  federal government on a monthly basis.

Deutsche  Post  AG  also  entered  into  an  agreement  with  the 
Federal Ministry of Finance dated 30 January 2004 relating to the 
transfer of civil servants to German federal authorities. Under this 
agreement, civil servants are seconded with the aim of transferring 
them initially for six months, and are then transferred permanently 
if  they  successfully  complete  their  probation.  Once  a  permanent 
transfer  is  completed,  Deutsche  Post  AG  contributes  to  the  cost 
 incurred by the federal government by paying a flat fee. In 2012, 
this  initiative  resulted  in  eleven  permanent  transfers  (previous 
year: 15) and 16 secondments with the aim of a permanent transfer 
in 2013 (previous year: ten).

RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE GERMAN FEDERAL  
EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

Deutsche  Post  AG  and  the  German  Federal  Employment 
Agency entered into an agreement dated 12 October 2009 relating 
to  the  transfer  of  Deutsche  Post  AG  civil  servants  to  the  Federal 
Employment Agency. In 2012, this initiative resulted in no perman-
ent transfers.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

209

RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNCONSOLIDATED COMPANIES, 
 ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES

In  addition  to  the  consolidated  subsidiaries,  the  Group  has 
direct  and  indirect  relationships  with  unconsolidated  companies, 
associates  and  joint  ventures  deemed  to  be  related  parties  of  the 
Group in the course of its ordinary business activities. As part of 
these activities, all transactions for the provision of goods and ser-
vices entered into with unconsolidated companies were conducted 
on an arm’s length basis at standard market terms and conditions. 
Transactions  were  conducted  in  financial  year  2012  with  major 
 related parties, resulting in the following items in the consolidated 
financial statements:

52.2  Related party disclosures (individuals)

In accordance with IAS 24, the Group also reports on trans-
actions between the Group and related parties or members of their 
families. Related parties are defined as the Board of Management, 
the Supervisory Board and the members of their families.

There  were  no  reportable  transactions  or  legal  transactions 

involving related parties in financial year 2012.

The  remuneration  of  key  management  personnel  of  the 
Group requiring disclosure under IAS 24 comprises the remuner-
ation of the active members of the Board of Management and the 
Supervisory Board. 

The  active  members  of  the  Board  of  Management  and  the 

 Supervisory Board were remunerated as follows:

€ m

Receivables 

from associates

from joint ventures

from unconsolidated companies

Loans 

to associates

to joint ventures

to unconsolidated companies

Receivables from in-house banking 

from associates

from joint ventures

from unconsolidated companies

Financial liabilities

to associates

to joint ventures

to unconsolidated companies

Liabilities 

to associates

to joint ventures

to unconsolidated companies

Revenue

from associates 1

from joint ventures

from unconsolidated companies

Expenses 2

due to associates 1

due to joint ventures

due to unconsolidated companies

1  revenue and expenses include Deutsche Postbank AG-related amounts up to and including 

February 2012.

2  relate to materials expense and staff costs.

Deutsche Post AG issued letters of commitment in the amount 
of €101 million (previous year: €140 million) for these companies. 
Of  this  amount,  €94 million  (previous  year:  €109 million)  was 
 attributable  to  associates,  €3 million  (previous  year:  €26 million) 
to  joint  ventures  and  €4 million  (previous  year:  €5 million)  to 
 unconsolidated companies.

2011

2012

€ m

27

18

5

4

33

0

20

13

3

0

3

0

102

28

5

69

33

10

22

1

290

269

20

1

629

445

163

21

7

1

3

3

11

0

0

11

2

0

2

0

93

2

7

84

35

0

35

0

80

46

33

1

264

66

176

22

short-term employee benefits  
(excluding share-based payment)

Post-employment benefits

termination benefits 

share-based payment

Total

2011

2012

13

3

4

1

21

15

3

0

18

36

As well as the aforementioned benefits for their work on the 
Supervisory  Board,  the  employee  representatives  who  are  on  the 
Supervisory Board and who are employed by the Group also  receive 
their normal salaries for their work in the company. These salaries 
are  determined  at  levels  that  are  commensurate  with  the  salary 
 appropriate for the function or work performed in the company.

Post-employment benefits are recognised as the service cost 
resulting  from  the  pension  provisions  for  active  members  of  the 
Board of Management. 

The  share-based  payment  amount  relates  to  the  relevant 
 expense recognised for financial years 2011 and 2012. It is itemised 
in the following table:

Share-based payment

thousands of €

Dr Frank appel, Chairman

Ken allen 

roger Crook 1

bruce edwards

Jürgen gerdes 

lawrence rosen 

Walter scheurle 2

Hermann ude 3

angela titzrath 4

Share-based payment

1  since 9 March 2011.
2  until 30 april 2012. 
3  until 8 March 2011.
4  since 1 May 2012.

2011

SAR s

199

111

58

114

114

111

114

438

–

2012

SAR s

3,951

2,409

576

2,452

2,452

2,398

3,994

–

119

1,259

18,351

210

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes
Other disclosures

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT REMUNERATION

REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS

The  total  remuneration  paid  to  the  active  members  of  the 
Board  of  Management  in  financial  year  2012  including  the  com-
ponents  with  a  long-term  incentive  effect  totalled  €20.3  million 
(previous year: €19.0 million). Of this amount, €7.6 million (previ-
ous year: €7.4 million) is attributable to non-performance-related 
components (annual base salary and fringe benefits), €5.7 million 
(previous year: €4.6 million) to performance-related components 
(variable  components)  and  €7.0 million  (previous  year:  €7.0 mil-
lion) to components with a long-term incentive effect (SAR s). The 
number of SAR s was 2,108,466 (previous year: 2,771,178).

FORMER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT

The remuneration of former members of the Board of Manage-
ment or their surviving dependants amounted to €4.6 million in 
the  year  under  review  (previous  year:  €7.4 million).  The  defined 
benefit  obligation  (DBO)  for  current  pensions  calculated  under 
IFRS s  amounted  to  €78 million  (previous  year:  €57.0 million). 
A total of €20.9 million of the difference is due to the significantly 
lower discount rate under IFRS s compared with the previous year, 
as well as the greater number of pensioners as their pension bene-
fits have fallen due. No additional obligations have been incurred 
in this context. 

REMUNERATION OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

The total remuneration of the Supervisory Board in  financial 
year 2012 amounted to approximately €1.9 million (previous year: 
€1.4 million); €1.2 million of this amount was attributable to a fixed 
component  (previous  year:  €1.2 million),  €0.2 million  to  attend-
ance  allowances  (previous  year:  €0.2 million)  and  €0.4 million 
to  the  performance-related  remuneration  for  financial  year  2010 
(previous year: €0 million).

The  transactions  of  Board  of  Management  and  Supervisory 
Board  members  involving  securities  of  the  company  notified  to 
Deutsche  Post  AG  in  accordance  with  section  15  a  of  the  Wert-
papierhandelsgesetz  (WpHG  –  German  Securities  Trading  Act) 
can be viewed on the company’s website at www.dp-dhl.com/en/ 
investors.html.

53  Auditor’s fees

The  following  fees  for  services  rendered  by  the  auditor  of 
the  consolidated  financial  statements,  PricewaterhouseCoopers 
Aktien gesellschaft  Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft,  were  recog-
nised as an expense in financial year 2012 and in the previous year:

€ m

audits of the financial statements

other assurance or valuation services

tax advisory services

other services

Auditor’s fees

2011

2012

5

2

0

2

9

5

3

0

2

10

54  Exemptions under the HGB and local foreign legislation

For financial year 2012, Deutsche Post AG has exercised the 
simplification options under section 264 (3) of the HGB or section 
264b of the HGB for the following companies:
•  Adcloud GmbH
•  Agheera GmbH
•  Albert Scheid GmbH
•  CSG GmbH  

(formerly Deutsche Post Real Estate Germany GmbH)

•  CSG.TS GmbH  

FORMER MEMBERS OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

(formerly Deutsche Post Technischer Service GmbH)

The conditions for the performance-based remuneration for 
2010 were met as at 31 December 2012. This led to a payment of 
€0.04 million to former members of the Supervisory Board.

Further  information  on  the  itemised  remuneration  of  the 
Board of Management and the Supervisory Board can be found in 
the Corporate Governance Report. The remuneration report con-
tained in the Corporate Governance Report also forms part of the 
Group Management Report.

SHAREHOLDINGS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT  
AND SUPERVISORY BOARD

As at 31 December 2012, shares held by the Board of Manage-
ment and the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Post AG amounted to 
less than 1 % of the company’s share capital.

•  Danzas Deutschland Holding GmbH
•  Danzas Grundstücksverwaltung Groß-Gerau GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Adress Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
•  Deutsche Post Assekuranz Vermittlungs GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Beteiligungen Holding GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Com GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Consult GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Customer Service Center GmbH
•  Deutsche Post DHL Beteiligungen GmbH
•  Deutsche Post DHL Corporate Real Estate Management GmbH
•  Deutsche Post DHL Corporate Real Estate Management GmbH  

& Co. Logistikzentren KG

•  Deutsche Post DHL Inhouse Consulting GmbH
•  Deutsche Post DHL Research and Innovation GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Direkt GmbH
•  Deutsche Post E-Post Development GmbH 
•  Deutsche Post E-POST Solutions GmbH  

(formerly Williams Lea Deutschland GmbH)

•  Deutsche Post Fleet GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Grundstücks-Vermietungsgesellschaft beta mbH
•  Deutsche Post Immobilien GmbH

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

211

 
 
 
The  following  companies  make  use  of  the  audit  exemption 

under 479 A of the Companies Act:
•  Applied Distribution Group Ltd.
•  DHL Exel Supply Chain Ltd.
•  Exel Overseas Ltd.
•  Freight Indemnity & Guarantee Company Ltd.
•  Ocean Group Investments Ltd.
•  Ocean Overseas Holdings Ltd.
•  Power Europe Development Ltd.
•  Power Europe Operating Ltd.
•  RDC Properties Ltd.
•  T & B Applied Ltd.
•  Tibbett & Britten Group Ltd.
•  Trucks and Child Safety Ltd.

55  Declaration of Conformity with the German Corporate 

 Governance Code

The  Board  of  Management  and  the  Supervisory  Board  of 
Deutsche Post AG jointly submitted the Declaration of Conformity 
with  the  German  Corporate  Governance  Code  for  financial  year 
2012 required by section 161 of the Aktiengesetz (AktG –  German 
Stock  Corporation  Act).  This  Declaration  of  Conformity  can  be 
 accessed  online  at  www.corporate-governance-code.de  and  at 
www.dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html.

56  Significant events after the balance sheet date

There were no significant events after the reporting date.

•  Deutsche Post InHaus Services GmbH  

(formerly Williams Lea Inhouse Solutions GmbH)

•  Deutsche Post Investments GmbH
•  Deutsche Post IT BRIEF GmbH
•  Deutsche Post IT Services GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Shop Essen GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Shop Hannover GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Shop München GmbH
•  Deutsche Post Signtrust und DMDA GmbH 
•  Deutsche Post Zahlungsdienste GmbH
•  DHL Airways GmbH
•  DHL Automotive GmbH
•  DHL Automotive Offenau GmbH
•  DHL Express Germany GmbH
•  DHL Fashion Retail Operation GmbH  

(formerly DHL BwLog GmbH)

•  DHL Foodservices GmbH
•  DHL Freight Germany Holding GmbH
•  DHL Freight GmbH
•  DHL Global Forwarding GmbH
•  DHL Global Forwarding Management GmbH
•  DHL Global Management GmbH
•  DHL Home Delivery GmbH
•  DHL Hub Leipzig GmbH
•  DHL International GmbH
•  DHL Logistics GmbH
•  DHL Solutions Fashion GmbH
•  DHL Solutions GmbH
•  DHL Solutions Großgut GmbH
•  DHL Solutions Retail GmbH
•  DHL Supply Chain (Leipzig) GmbH 
•  DHL Supply Chain Management GmbH
•  DHL Supply Chain VAS GmbH 
•  DHL Trade Fairs & Events GmbH
•  DHL Vertriebs GmbH  

(formerly DHL Vertriebs GmbH & Co. oHG)

•  DHL Verwaltungs GmbH
•  Erste End of Runway Development Leipzig GmbH
•  Erste Logistik Entwicklungsgesellschaft MG GmbH
•  European Air Transport Leipzig GmbH
•  FIRST MAIL Düsseldorf GmbH
•  forum gelb GmbH
•  Gerlach Zolldienste GmbH
•  interServ Gesellschaft für Personal- und Beraterdienst-

leistungen mbH

•  ITG GmbH Internationale Spedition und Logistik
•  SGB Speditionsgesellschaft mbH
•  Siegfried Vögele Institut (SVI) –  

Internationale Gesellschaft für Dialogmarketing mbH

•  Werbeagentur Janssen GmbH
•  Williams Lea GmbH
•  Zweite Logistik Entwicklungsgesellschaft MG GmbH

212

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Consolidated Financial Statements
Responsibility Statement

resPonsibilitY stateMent

To  the  best  of  our  knowledge,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
 applicable  reporting  principles,  the  consolidated  financial  state-
ments give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
 position  and  profit  or  loss  of  the  Group,  and  the  management 
 report  of  the  Group  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.

Bonn, 18 February 2013

Deutsche Post AG
The Board of Management

Dr Frank Appel

Ken Allen 

Roger Crook

Bruce Edwards 

Jürgen Gerdes

Lawrence Rosen 

Angela Titzrath

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

213

 
 
 
inDePenDent auDitor’s rePort

To Deutsche Post AG

Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We  have  audited  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of 
Deutsche Post AG, Bonn, and its subsidiaries, which comprise the 
income statement and the statement of comprehensive income, the 
balance sheet, the cash flow statement, the statement of changes in 
equity, and the notes to the consolidated financial statements, for 
the business year from 1 January to 31 December 2012.

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The  Board  of  Management  of  Deutsche  Post  AG,  Bonn,  is 
 responsible  for  the  preparation  of  these  consolidated  financial 
statements.  The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  financial  state-
ments and the group management report in accordance with the 
IFRS s,  as  adopted  by  the  EU,  and  the  additional  requirements  of 
German  commercial  law  pursuant  to  §  (Article)  315 a  Abs.  (para-
graph)  1  HGB  (“Handelsgesetzbuch”:  German  Commercial  Code) 
and that these consolidated financial statements give a true and fair 
view of the net assets, financial position and results of operations 
of  the  group  in  accordance  with  these  requirements.  The  Board 
of  Management  is  also  responsible  for  the  internal  controls  as 
the Board of Management determines are necessary to enable the 
preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consoli-
dated financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our 
audit of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with 
§ 317 HGB and German generally accepted standards for the audit 
of financial statements promulgated by the Institut der Wirtschafts-
prüfer (Institute of Public Auditors in Germany) (IDW) and, add-
itionally, observed the International Standards on Auditing (ISA). 
Accordingly, we are required to comply with ethical requirements 
and  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance 
about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from 
material misstatement.

An audit involves performing audit procedures to obtain  audit 
evidence  about  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  consolidated 
 financial statements. The selection of audit procedures  depends on 
the auditor’s professional judgment. This includes the assessment 
of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial 
statements, whether due to fraud or error. In assessing those risks, 
the  auditor  considers  the  internal  control  system  relevant  to  the 
entity’s preparation of consolidated financial statements that give 
a true and fair view. The aim of this is to plan and perform audit 
procedures that are appropriate in the given circumstances, but not 
for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the 
group’s internal control system. An audit also includes evaluating 
the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonable-
ness of accounting estimates made by the Board of Management, 
as  well  as  evaluating  the  overall  presentation  of  the  consolidated 
financial statements.

We  believe  that  the  audit  evidence  we  have  obtained  is  suf-

ficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

AUDIT OPINION

According to § 322 Abs. 3 Satz (sentence) 1 HGB, we state that 
our  audit  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  has  not  led  to 
any reservations.

In  our  opinion  based  on  the  findings  of  our  audit,  the  con-
solidated financial statements comply, in all material respects, with 
IFRS s,  as  adopted  by  the  EU,  and  the  additional  requirements  of 
German commercial law pursuant to § 315 a Abs. 1 HGB and give a 
true  and  fair  view  of  the  net  assets  and  financial  position  of  the 
Group  as  at  31 December 2012  as  well  as  the  results  of  oper-
ations for the business year then ended, in accordance with these 
requirements.  

Report on the Group Management Report

We  have  audited  the  accompanying  group  management 
 report  of  Deutsche  Post  AG,  Bonn,  for  the  business  year  from 
1 January  to  31 December 2012.  The  Board  of  Management  of 
Deutsche Post AG, Bonn, is responsible for the preparation of the 
group  management  report  in  accordance  with  the  requirements 
of German commercial law applicable pursuant to § 315a (1) HGB. 
We conducted our audit in accordance with § 317 Abs. 2 HGB and 
German  generally  accepted  standards  for  the  audit  of  the  group 
management  report  promulgated  by  the  Institut  der  Wirtschafts-
prüfer  ( Institute  of  Public  Auditors  in  Germany)  (IDW).  Accord-
ingly, we are required to plan and perform the audit of the group 
management report to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
the group management report is consistent with the consolidated 
financial  statements  and  the  audit  findings,  as  a  whole  provides 
a suitable view of the Group’s position and suitably presents the 
 opportunities and risks of future development. 

According to § 322 Abs. 3 Satz 1 HGB, we state that our audit 

of the group management report has not led to any reservations. 

In  our  opinion  based  on  the  findings  of  our  audit  of  the 
consolidated  financial  statements  and  group  management  report, 
the group management report is consistent with the consolidated 
financial  statements,  as  a  whole  provides  a  suitable  view  of  the 
Group’s position and suitably presents the opportunities and risks 
of future development.

Düsseldorf, 18 February 2013

PricewaterhouseCoopers
Aktiengesellschaft
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

Gerd Eggemann 
Wirtschaftsprüfer 
(German Public Auditor) 

Dietmar Prümm
Wirtschaftsprüfer
(German Public Auditor)

214

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
 
215  

 224

FurtHer 
 inForMation

D 丁 Further InFormatIon FurtHer inForMation

D 

inDex  

glossarY  

graPHs anD tables  

loCations  

Multi-Year reVieW  

ContaCts  

 217

 218

 219

 220

 222

 224

 
Further Information
Index

inDex

a

F

advertising mail  55

Finance strategy  39 ff., 107

air freight  19, 29, 57, 63 ff., 71, 100, 106

First Choice  20, 81 f., 92, 99, 101, 102, 113

annual general Meeting  20 ff., 38, 107, 112 ff., 119, 
123 f., 131, 133, 176, II

Free cash flow  47, 153, 170, 191

Free float  35, 176

articles of association  21 ff., 131

auditor’s report  114, 214

authorised capital  22, 176

Freight  20, 29, 46, 50, 57, 60, 63, 64 f., 81, 83, 100, 
145, 162, 170

Freight forwarding business  63 ff., 81, 100, 106, 146

b

g

operating cash flow  36, 39 ff., 46 f., 50, 56, 62, 66, 
69, 107, 190 f., 222

opportunities  85 ff., 88 f., 90, 92, 95, 111

outlook  85 ff.

P

Parcel germany  20, 50, 51, 53, 55, 71, 83, 105, 162

Pension service  20, 50, 51, 83, 162

Press services  20, 50, 51, 52, 55, 83, 105, 162

Price-to-earnings ratio  33, 223

balance sheet  36, 43, 44, 48 f., 139, 142 f., 147 f., 
150 f., 152 ff., 159 f., 169 ff.

bonds  24, 34, 36, 39 f., 42, 44, 47, 49, 107, 149, 154, 
158, 187 f., 191 f., 195

board of Management  1 f., 20 ff., 25, 35, 36, 38, 70, 
87 f., 92, 95, 102, 111 ff., 116 f., 118, 119 ff., 124 ff., 156, 
176, 191, 208, 210 f., 212, 213

board of Management remuneration  21, 24, 25, 112, 
122, 124 ff., 156, 208, 210, 211

brands  I, 19, 83 f., 144, 152, 161, 169

C

global business services  19 f., 46, 102, 106, 162

global economy  25 f., 33, 85, 88, 103 f., 106

Q

global Forwarding  20, 46, 50, 57, 63 ff., 81, 83, 100 f., 
162, 170, 207

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT  19 f., 37, 43, 45 f., 50, 57, 
63 ff., 70 f., 78, 83, 92, 96 f., 100, 106, 108, 146, 161 f., 222

global Mail  20, 50, 51, 54, 56, 83, 105, 162

gogreen  76, 80, 103

goHelp  77, 103

goteach  77, 103

guarantees  39, 42

Capital expenditure  31 f., 38, 44 ff., 48, 78, 92, 108, 
122, 162, 171, 190 f., 222

i

Cash flow  31, 33, 36, 39 ff., 46 f., 50, 56, 62, 66, 69, 
85, 107, 140, 142, 153, 170, 190 ff., 192 ff., 198 f., 222

Cash flow statement  46 f., 140, 142, 190 ff., 222

illness rate  75

income statement  137, 142, 147 f., 152, 154 f.,158, 160, 
164 ff., 172 f.

Change of control  24, 126 f.

income taxes  38, 137, 138, 140, 150, 158, 166 f.

Consolidated net profit  37, 38, 48, 137 f., 140 f., 167 f., 
178, 190, 222

investments  31 f., 38, 44 ff., 48, 78, 92, 108, 122, 162, 
171, 190 f., 222

Consolidated revenue  37, 137, 143 ff., 164, 222

Contingent capital  22, 176

Contract logistics  19, 29, 67 ff., 101, 106, 162

Corporate governance  24 f., 109 ff., 114, 119 ff., 212

Cost of capital  31, 40, 170

Credit lines  41 f., 191

Credit rating  39 f., 42 f., 95, 107, 159

D

Declaration of Conformity  112, 114, 119, 212

Dialogue Marketing  20, 50, 51, 52, 55, 83, 105, 162

Dividend  33 f., 37, 38, 39 f., 47 ff., 107, 114, 140, 168, 
178, 191, 223

l

letters of comfort  39, 42

living responsibility Fund  77

liquidity management  41, 191 f.

M

MAIL  19 f., 29, 35 ff., 42 f., 45 f., 50 ff., 70 ff., 78, 80, 83, 
85, 91, 96 ff., 105, 107 f., 143 f., 161 f., 222

Mail Communication  20, 50, 51, 52, 54, 83, 105, 162

Mandates  118

Market shares  29, 43, 52 ff., 59 f., 63 f., 68, 105 f.

Market volumes  29, 52 ff., 59 f., 63 f., 68

e

earnings per share  33, 37, 38, 137, 168, 223

EBIT after asset charge  31 f., 125, 127

E-Postbrief  30, 45, 52 f., 80, 84, 93, 98, 105

equity investments  21, 23, 139, 142 ff., 147, 153, 160, 
166, 172, 174 f., 208, 211

equity ratio  48 f., 177, 223

n

net asset base  31 f.

net debt  49, 177, 223

net gearing  49, 177, 223

net interest cover  48 f.

EXPRESS  19 f., 29, 37, 43, 45 f., 50, 57, 58 ff., 65, 70 f., 
81, 83, 91, 96 f., 99, 106, 108, 145 ff., 161 f., 222

o

ocean freight  19, 29, 57, 63 ff., 89, 100, 106

oil price  26, 37 f., 104

Quality  19, 30, 58, 68, 72 f., 86, 80 ff., 91 f., 97 ff., 102, 
105 f.

r

rating  39 f., 42 f., 77, 95, 107, 159

regulation  20, 30, 43, 89 f., 100, 206 f.

responsibility statement  213

retail outlets  20, 50, 51 ff., 56, 80, 98, 119, 162

return on sales  37, 50, 56, 62, 65, 66, 223

revenue  36, 37 f., 50, 54 ff., 60 ff., 64 ff., 69, 81, 90, 
95, 102, 105, 106 f., 137, 143 ff., 152, 160, 161 ff., 164, 222

risk management  75, 85 ff., 92, 93, 112 f., 122, 191, 194 f.

road transport  29, 57, 63 ff., 76, 82, 106, 162

s

segment reporting  37, 60, 65, 161 ff.

share capital  20 ff., 176, 208, 211

shareholder structure  35

share price  33, 34, 96, 149, 156, 207

staff costs  38, 71, 137, 150, 156 f., 165, 185, 190, 210, 223

strategy  2015  70, 71, 82, 96, 112, 114

supervisory board  21 ff., 25, 38, 111 ff., 115, 118, 
119 ff., 131 ff., 176, 208, 210 ff.

supervisory board committees  111, 113, 115, 119, 
121 ff., 132

supervisory board remuneration  25, 112, 131 ff., 
210, 211

SUPPLY CHAIN  19 f., 35, 37 f., 43, 45 f., 50, 57, 67 ff., 70 f., 
82 f., 92, 96 f., 101, 106, 108, 143 ff., 146 f., 161 f., 222

t

tax rate  223

trade volumes  27 f., 105, 107

training  72, 93, 99

W

WACC  31, 40, 170

Williams lea  20, 46, 49, 50, 57, 68 f., 83, 106, 144, 162

Working capital  31 f., 46, 56, 62, 66, 69, 78, 170, 190

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

217

glossarY

Cross-border mail (outbound)
all outbound international mail.

Dialogue marketing
Market-orientated activities that apply direct 
 communications to selectively reach target groups 
using a personal, individualised approach.

E-Postbrief
a secure and reliable means of online communication 
that can be delivered both electronically and by 
traditional mail.

Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur)
german national regulator for electricity, gas, tele-
communications, post and railway.

Maxibrief
letter measuring a maximum of 353 × 250 × 50 mm 
and weighing up to 1,000 g.

Packstation
Parcel machine where parcels and small packages 
can be deposited and collected around the clock.

Paketbox
Parcel box for franked parcels and small packages 
(maximum dimensions: 50 × 40 × 30 cm).

Partner outlets
Postal retail outlets operated primarily by partners 
in the retail sector who offer postal services in 
 addition to their core businesses.

Postal Act (Postgesetz)
the purpose of the german Postal act, which 
took effect on 1 January 1998, is to promote postal 
 competition through regulation and ensure the 
 nationwide provision of appropriate and sufficient 
postal services. it includes regulations on licensing, 
price control and the universal service.

Preferred periodical
a press product of which more than 30 % consists 
of journalistic reporting.

Price-cap procedure
Procedure whereby the german Federal network 
agency approves prices for certain mail  products. 
the agency approves prices on the basis of par-
a meters it stipulates in advance, which set the 
 average changes in these prices within baskets 
of services defined by the agency.

Standard letter
letter measuring a maximum of 235 × 125 × 5 mm 
and weighing up to 20g.

Standard periodical
a press product of which no more than 30 % consists 
of journalistic reporting.

Targeting
target-specific advertising on websites aimed 
at achieving the highest possible advertising 
 effectiveness.

Aftermarket logistics
logistics services for manufacturer exchanges, 
returns and repairs.

Lead logistics provider
a logistics service provider who assumes the organisa-
tion of all or key logistics processes for the customer.

B2C
the exchange of goods, services and information 
between companies and consumers.

Less than container load (LCL)
loads that will not fill a container and are consolidat-
ed for ocean transport.

Business process outsourcing
outsourcing specific business functions to a third- 
party service provider.

Collect and return
goods are picked up from end users at different 
addresses, transported to the predetermined repair 
company, collected after repair and returned to the 
end user.

Contract logistics
Complex logistics and logistics-related services along 
the value chain that are performed by a contract 
logistics service provider. services are tailored to 
a particular industry or customer and are generally 
based on long-term contracts.

Day Definite
Delivery of shipments on a specified day. 

DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation (DSI) 
a unit in which we merged our key account manage-
ment, global Customer solutions (GCS), our innovation 
unit, DHL solutions & innovations (DSI), and our 
 strategic sector management in order to deliver on 
our customer promise and to bundle all cross- 
divisional DHL activities. 

Less than truckload
shipment weighing approximately three tonnes that 
is smaller than a full truckload and consolidated 
with other senders’ and/or receivers’ shipments into 
one load for transport.

Maintenance, Repair & Operations
the product relates to the supply of goods which 
do not become part of the end product but are 
consumed during maintenance, repair and general 
operations processes. 

Medical Express
the transport of time-critical or temperature-critical 
medical shipments such as blood and tissue samples 
to medical facilities, hospitals, laboratories or 
research institutes, usually related to clinical trials 
of new medications. 

Multimodal transport
Combines a minimum of two different means of trans-
port for a shipment, such as air, sea, rail and ground.

Part truckload
shipment that does not constitute a full truckload but 
is transported from point of departure to destination 
without trans-shipment.

E-fulfilment
Fulfilment services for the e-commerce market.

Same Day
Delivery within 24 hours of order placement.

Full truckload
Complete capacity of truck is utilised, from sender 
to receiver.

Supply chain
a series of connected resources and processes from 
sourcing materials to delivering goods to consumers.

Gateway
Collection point for goods intended for export 
and for further distribution of goods upon import; 
 customs clearance point.

Hub
Collection centre for the trans-shipment and 
 consolidation of flows of goods.

Inbound logistics
supply of manufacturing and assembly locations.

Inbound-to-manufacturing
the procurement of goods and their transport from 
the place of origin/manufacture to the production line.

Intermodal transport
transport chain combining different modes of trans-
port, often road and rail.

Time Definite
Delivery of time-critical shipments for which the day 
or time of delivery has been specified or guaranteed.

Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA)
a forum that unites manufacturers, logistics providers, 
freight carriers, law enforcement authorities and 
other stakeholders with the common aim of reducing 
losses from international supply chains.

Twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU)
standardised container unit, 20 feet long, 8 feet wide 
(6 × 2.4 metres).

218

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Further Information
Graphs and Tables

graPHs anD tables

02 

03 

04 

selected key figures 

target-performance comparison 

events 

a 

group  Management report

Business and Environment

A.01  organisational structure  
of Deutsche Post DHl 

I

2

II

20

A.02  global economy: growth indicators in 2012  25

A.03  brent Crude spot price and euro / US dollar 

exchange rate in 2012 

A.04  trade volumes: compound annual growth  

rate 2011 to 2012 

A.05  Major trade flows: 2012 volumes 

A.06  Market volumes 

A.07  EAC calculation 

A.08  net asset base calculation 

A.09  EBIT after asset charge (EAC) 

A.10  net asset base (unconsolidated) 

Deutsche Post Shares

A.11  Deutsche Post shares: multi-year review 

A.12  Peer group comparison: closing prices 

A.13  share price performance 

A.14  shareholder structure 

A.15  shareholder structure by region 

Economic Position

A.16  selected indicators for results  

of operations 

A.17  Consolidated revenue 

A.18  Development of revenue, other operating 

income and operating expenses 

A.19  Consolidated EBIT 

A.20  total dividend and dividend per no-par  

value share 

A.21  Finance strategy 

A.22  FFO to debt 

A.23  agency ratings 

A.24  Financial liabilities 

A.25  operating lease liabilities by asset class 

A.26  Capex by region 

A.27  Capex and depreciation, amortisation  
and impairment losses, full year 

A.28  Capex and depreciation, amortisation  

and impairment losses, Q 4 

A.29  Capex by segment 

A.30  operating cash flow by division, 2012 

A.31  selected cash flow indicators 

A.32  Calculation of free cash flow 

A.33  selected indicators for net assets 

A.34  net liquidity (–) / net debt (+) 

26

27

28

29

31

31

32

32

33

34

34

35

35

37

37

38

38

38

40

40

43

44

44

44

45

45

45

46

47

47

48

49

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

Divisions

Outlook

A.35  Key figures by operating division 

A.36  Domestic mail communication market, 

 business customers, 2012 

A.37  Domestic dialogue  

marketing market, 2012 

A.38  Domestic press services  

market, 2012 

A.39  Domestic parcel market, 2012 

50

52

52

53

53

A.40  international mail market ( outbound), 2012  54

A.41  Mail Communication: volumes 

A.42  Dialogue Marketing: volumes 

A.43  Parcel germany: volumes 

A.44  Mail international: volumes 

A.45  european international express market,  

2011: top 4 

A.46  the americas international express  

market, 2011: top 4 

A.47  asia Pacific international express market, 

2011: top 4 

A.48  EXPRESS: revenue by product 

A.49  EXPRESS: volumes by product 

A.50  air freight market, 2011: top 4 

A.51  ocean freight market, 2011: top 4 

A.52  european road transport  
market, 2011: top 5 

A.53  global Forwarding: revenue 

A.54  global Forwarding: volumes 

A.55  logistics and value-added services  

along the supply chain 

A.56  Contract logistics market, 2011: top 10 

A.57  SUPPLY CHAIN: revenue by sector, 2012 

A.58   SUPPLY CHAIN: revenue by region, 2012 

Non-Financial Performance  Indicators

A.59  number of employees 

A.60  employees by region, 2012 

A.61  staff costs and social security benefits 

A.62  traineeships, Deutsche Post DHl,  

worldwide 

A.63  idea management 

A.64  gender distribution in management, 2012 

A.65  Work-life balance  

A.66  illness rate 

A.67  occupational safety 

A.68  CO 2 emissions, 2012 
A.69  Fuel and energy consumption 

A.70  Procurement expenses, 2012 

A.71  brands and business units 

54

55

55

56

59

59

59

61

61

63

63

64

65

65

67

68

69

69

70

71

71

72

73

74

74

75

75

76

76

78

83

A.72  Monte Carlo simulation 

86

A.73  opportunity and risk management process  86

A.74  strategic approaches 

A.75  strategic priorities by division 

A.76  global economy: growth forecast 

b 

Corporate  governance

B.01  Members of the supervisory board 

B.02  Committees of the supervisory board 

B.03  Mandates held by the board  

of Management 

B.04  Mandates held by the supervisory board 

96

97

104

115

115

118

118

B.05  remuneration paid to the group board  

of Management in 2012: cash components  128

B.06  remuneration paid to the group board  

of Management in 2012: share-based 
 component with long-term incentive  
effect 

128

B.07  remuneration paid to the group board  

of Management in 2011: cash components  129

B.08  remuneration paid to the group board  

of Management in 2011: share-based  
component with long-term incentive  
effect 

B.09  Pension commitments under the previous 

system in financial year 2012: individual 
breakdown 

B.10  Pension commitments under the previous 
system in the previous year (2011):  
individual breakdown 

129

130

130

B.11  board of Management pension commit-

ments under the new system in financial  
year 2012: individual breakdown 

131

B.12  board of Management pension commit-

ments under the new system in the previ-
ous year (2011): individual breakdown 

B.13  remuneration paid to supervisory board 

members in 2012 

B.14  Variable remuneration paid to  

supervisory board members for 2010 

B.15  remuneration paid to supervisory  

board members in 2011 

C 

 Consolidated Financial  statements

C.01 

income statement  

C.02  statement of Comprehensive income 

C.03  balance sheet 

C.04  Cash Flow statement  

C.05  statement of Changes in equity 

D 

Further  information

D.01  Deutsche Post DHl around the world 

D.02  Key figures 2005 to 2012 

131

132

133

134

137

138

139

140

141

220

222

219

loCations

D.01  Deutsche Post DHL around the world 1

Americas

antigua and barbuda

Chile

argentina

aruba

bahamas

barbados

belize

bermuda

bolivia

brazil

british Virgin islands

Canada

Cayman islands

Colombia

Costa rica

Dominican republic

Dutch antilles

ecuador

el salvador

guatemala

Haiti

Honduras

Jamaica

Martinique

Mexico

nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Puerto rico

st lucia

Europe

albania

austria

belgium

bosnia and Herzegovina

bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

trinidad and tobago

Czech republic

uruguay

usa

Venezuela

Denmark

estonia

Finland

France

germany

greece

Hungary

iceland

ireland

italy

latvia

lithuania

luxembourg

Macedonia

Malta

netherlands

norway

Poland

Portugal

romania

russia

serbia

slovakia

slovenia

spain

sweden

switzerland

ukraine

united Kingdom

1  Countries according to the list of shareholdings, which can be accessed on the website 

 www.dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html.

220

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

D.01  Deutsche Post DHL around the world 1

Middle East and Africa

algeria

angola

bahrain

benin

botswana

burkina Faso

Cameroon

Central african republic

Chad

Democratic republic  
of Congo

egypt

ethiopia

gabon

gambia

ghana

guinea

iran

iraq

israel

ivory Coast

Jordan

Kenya

Kuwait

lebanon

lesotho

liberia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauretania

Mauritius

Morocco

Mozambique

namibia

niger

nigeria

oman

Qatar

republic of Congo

republic of equatorial 
guinea

réunion

saudi arabia

senegal

Further Information
Locations

Asia Pacific

australia

bangladesh

Malaysia

nepal

brunei Darussalam

new Caledonia

sierra leone

south africa

swaziland

tanzania

togo

turkey

uganda

Cambodia

China

east timor

Fiji

united arab emirates

French Polynesia

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

india

indonesia

Japan

Kazakhstan

laos

Macau

new Zealand

Pakistan

Papua new guinea

Philippines

singapore

south Korea

sri lanka

taiwan

thailand

Vietnam

1  Countries according to the list of shareholdings, which can be accessed on the website 

 www.dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

221

Multi-Year reVieW

D.02  Key figures 2005 to 2012

€ m

Revenue

MAIL

EXPRESS 

LOGISTICS

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

SUPPLY CHAIN

FINANCIAL SERVICES

SERVICES

Divisions total

2005 
adjusted

2006 
adjusted

2007 
adjusted

2008 
adjusted

2009 
adjusted

2010 
adjusted

2011 
adjusted

2012 

12,878

16,831

9,933

–

–

7,089

3,874

15,290

13,463

24,405

–

–

9,593

2,201

14,569

13,874

–

12,959

14,317

–

–

14,393

13,637

–

14,179

13,718

–

–

13,912

9,917

–

11,243

12,183

–

–

13,913

11,111

–

14,341

13,061

–

–

13,973

11,691

–

15,118

13,223

–

–

13,972

12,778

–

15,666

14,340

–

–

50,605

64,952

55,719

55,927

47,255

52,426

54,005

56,756

Corporate Center / other (until 2006: Consolidation;  
until 2007: Corporate Center / other and Consolidation)

Consolidation

Total (continuing operations)

Discontinued operations

Profit / loss from operating activities (EBIT)

– 6,011

– 4,407

–1,676

–

–

44,594

60,545

–

–

–

54,043

10,335

MAIL

EXPRESS 

LOGISTICS

GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT

SUPPLY CHAIN

FINANCIAL SERVICES

SERVICES

Divisions total

Corporate Center / other (until 2006: Consolidation;  
until 2007: Corporate Center / other and Consolidation)

Consolidation

Total (continuing operations)

Discontinued operations

2,030

2,094

–23

346

–

–

863

679

3,895

–131

–

288

751

–

–

1,004

–229

3,908

–36

–

3,764

3,872

–

–

– 557

–

2,133

1,060

–393

0

– 966

– 871

1,782

–3,235

54,474

11,226

2,179

–2,194

–

362

– 920

–

–

1,527

–2,581

46,201

1,634

1,302

–2,340

51,388

–

1,260

–2,436

52,829

–

1,203

–2,447

55,512

–

1,391

–790

–

174

–216

–

–

1,120

1,107

497

–

383

231

–

–

916

–

440

362

–

–

1,051

1,108

–

512

416

–

–

1,976

–272

–

409

577

–

–

2,690

– 573

559

2,231

2,825

3,087

Consolidated net profit / loss for the period

2,448

2,282

1,873

–1,979

Cash flow / investments / depreciation, amortisation  
and impairment losses

total cash flow from operating activities

total cash flow from investing activities

total cash flow from financing activities

investments

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses

Assets and capital structure

non-current assets

Current assets 

equity (excluding non-controlling interests)

non-controlling interests

Current and non-current provisions

Current and non-current liabilities 1

Total assets

3,624

– 5,052

–1,288

6,176

1,961

3,922

–2,697

– 865

4,066

1,771

5,151

–1,053

–1,787

2,343

2,196

1,939

– 441

–1,468

3,169

2,662

25,223

26,074

25,764

20,517

147,417

191,624

209,656

242,447

10,624

1,791

12,161

19,371

11,220

2,732

14,233

20,850

11,035

2,778

12,276

21,544

7,826

2,026

10,836

242,276

172,640

217,698

235,420

262,964

–328

0

231

–24

693

– 584

–2,710

1,676

1,444

1,620

22,022

12,716

8,176

97

9,677

16,788

34,738

–395

–1

1,835

–

–389

0

2,436

–

– 420

–2

2,665

–

2,630

1,266

1,780

1,927

8

–1,651

1,276

1,296

24,493

13,270

10,511

185

9,427

17,640

37,763

2,371

–1,129

–1,547

1,880

1,274

21,225

17,183

11,009

190

9,008

18,201

38,408

–203

–1,697

1,199

2,032

1,339

21,832

12,289

11,951

213

6,306

15,651

34,121

222

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Further Information
Multi-Year Review

Employees / staff costs  
(from 2007: continuing operations)

total number of employees  
(headcount including trainees)

Full-time equivalents

2005 
adjusted

2006 
adjusted

2007 
adjusted

2008 
adjusted

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

as at 
31 Dec.

as at 
31 Dec.

502,545

520,112

512,147

512,536

477,280

467,088

471,654

473,626

455,115

463,350

453,626

451,515

424,686

418,946

423,502

428,129

average number of employees (headcount)

393,463

507,641

500,252

511,292

488,518

464,471

467,188

472,321

staff costs

staff cost ratio 2

Key figures revenue / income / assets  
and capital structure

return on sales 3

return on equity (ROE) before taxes 4

return on assets 5

tax rate 6

equity ratio 7

net debt (+) / net liquidity (–) (Postbank at equity) 8

net gearing (Postbank at equity) 9

Dynamic gearing (Postbank at equity) 10

Key stock data

(Diluted) earnings per share 11

Cash flow per share 11, 12

Dividend distribution

Payout ratio (distribution to consolidated net profit)

Dividend per share

Dividend yield (based on year-end closing price)

(Diluted) price / earnings ratio 14

€ m

% 

% 

% 

% 

% 

% 

€ m

%

years

€

€

€ m

%

€ 

%

14,337

18,616

17,169

18,389

17,021

16,609

16,730

17,770

32.2

30.7

31.8

33.8

36.8

32.3

31.7

32.0

8.4

28.7

2.3

19.8

7.2

4,193

28.1

2.4

1.99

3.23

836

37.4

0.70

3.4

10.3

6.4

21.6

2.0

19.7

6.4

3,083

21.4

1.4

1.60

3.28

903

47.1

0.75

3.3

14.3

3.9

8.6

0.9

14.0

5.9

2,858

20.4

1.0

1.15

4.27

1,087

78.6

0.90

3.8

20.4

–1.8

– 9.0

– 0.4

–

3.7

0.5

3.0

0.2

5.4

23.8

3.6

29.8

5.1

6.9

28.3

2,466

–1,690

–1,382

23.7

0.7

–1.40

1.60

725

–

0.60

5.0

– 8.5

–25.7

–1.4

0.53

– 0.48

725

112.6

0.60

4.4

25.5

–14.8

– 0.7

2.10

1.59

786

30.9

0.65

5.1

6.0

4.6

15.2

6.4

23.7

29.2

– 938

– 9.1

– 0.4

0.96

1.96

846

72.7

0.70

5.9

12.4

4.8

19.2

7.3

20.5

35.6

1,952

13.8

– 9.6

1.32

– 0.17

846 13

51.0

0.70 13

4.2

12.6

number of shares carrying dividend rights

millions

1,193.9

1,204.0

1,208.2

1,209.0

1,209.0

1,209.0

1,209.0

1,209.0

Year-end closing price

€

20.48

22.84

23.51

11.91

13.49

12.70

11.88

16.60

1  excluding liabilities from financial services. 

2  staff costs / revenue. 

3  EBIT / revenue. 

4  Profit before income taxes / average equity (including non-controlling interests). 

5  EBIT / average  

total  assets. 
current  financial assets and long-term deposits. From 2006: excluding financial liabilities to minority shareholders of Williams lea. From 2008: 

7  equity (including non-controlling interests) / total assets. 

6  income taxes / profit before income taxes. 

8  2005: Financial liabilities excluding cash and cash equivalents,  

 group Management report, page 49. 

9  net debt / net debt and equity (including  non-controlling interests). 

10  net debt / cash flow from operating activities. 

11  the weighted average number of shares for the period was used  

for the calculation. 

12 Cash flow from operating activities. 

13  Proposal. 

14  Year-end closing price / (diluted) earnings per share.

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

223

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ContaCts

Contacts

Investor Relations  

tel.: + 49 (0) 228 182-6 36 36 
Fax: + 49 (0) 228 182-6 31 99  
E-mail: ir @ deutschepost.de

Press office  

tel.: + 49 (0) 228 182-99 44 
Fax: + 49 (0) 228 182-98 80  
E-mail: pressestelle @ deutschepost.de

Ordering a copy of the Annual Report

External  

E-mail: ir @ deutschepost.de

  dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html

Internal  

get and DHL Webshop
Mat. no. 675-602-339

Publication  

English translation  

Published on 12 March 2013.

Deutsche Post Corporate language services et al.

the english version of the annual report 2012 of  Deutsche Post DHl 
constitutes a translation of the original german version.  
only the german  version is legally binding, insofar as this does not 
conflict with legal provisions in other countries.

224

Deutsche Post DHL Annual Report 2012

22 mm

200 + 12 mm

04  eVents

FinanCial CalenDar

2013

interiM rePort JanuarY to MarCH 2013  

2013 annual  general  Meeting (FranKFurt aM Main)  

DiViDenD PaYMent  

interiM rePort JanuarY to June 2013  

 14 MaY 2013

 29 MaY 2013

 30 MaY 2013

 6 august 2013

interiM rePort JanuarY to sePteMber 2013  

 12 noVeMber 2013

2014

annual rePort 2013  

interiM rePort JanuarY to MarCH 2014  

2014 annual  general  Meeting (FranKFurt aM Main)  

DiViDenD PaYMent  

interiM rePort JanuarY to June 2014  

 12 MarCH 2014

 15 MaY 2014

 27 MaY 2014

 28 MaY 2014

 5 august 2014

interiM rePort JanuarY to sePteMber 2014  

 12 noVeMber 2014

inVestor eVents 1

Citi’s annual West Coast sYMPosiuM (san FranCisCo)  

Citi Pan-euroPean business serViCes ConFerenCe (lonDon)  

DeutsCHe banK aCCess gerMan, sWiss & austrian ConFerenCe (FranKFurt aM Main)  

boFa Ml transPort & leisure ConFerenCe (lonDon)  

WolFe traHan & Co. global transPortation ConFerenCe (neW YorK)  

golDMan saCHs business serViCes ConFerenCe (lonDon)  

DaVY transPortation & logistiCs ConFerenCe (lonDon)  

ubs best oF gerManY ConFerenCe (neW YorK)  

golDMan saCHs / berenberg banK gerMan CorPorate ConFerenCe (MuniCH)  

baaDer inVestMent ConFerenCe (MuniCH)  

1  Further dates, updates as well as information on live webcasts 

 dp-dhl.com/en/investors.html.

 13 – 14 MarCH 2013

 22 MarCH 2013

 15 MaY 2013

 22 MaY 2013

 22 – 23 MaY 2013

 25 June 2013

 26 June 2013

 16 – 17 sePteMber 2013

 24 sePteMber 2013

 25 sePteMber 2013

ii

200 + 12 mm

22 mm

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Headquarters
investor relations
53250 bonn
germany

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