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KION Group

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FY2012 Annual Report · KION Group
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KION HOLDING 1 GmbH 
Wiesbaden 

Group management report and 
consolidated financial statements  
as at  
31 December 2012 

This  is  a  translation  of  the  German 

“KION Holding 1 GmbH 
Konzernlagebericht und 
Konzernabschluss zum 31.12.2012” 

Sole  authoritative  and  universally  valid 
version 
language 
document. 

the  German 

is 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION HOLDING 1 GmbH 
Wiesbaden 

Group management report 
as at 
31 December 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 3 of 69 

CONTENTS 

Highlights in 2012 .................................................................................................................................... 6 
Company profile and strategy ................................................................................................................. 7 
Group structure, organisation, management ....................................................................................... 7 
Shareholders ................................................................................................................................... 7 
Segment structure ........................................................................................................................... 9 
Management and control ............................................................................................................... 10 
Business model and market positioning ............................................................................................. 11 
Business model .............................................................................................................................. 11 
Market and influencing factors....................................................................................................... 13 
Market position .............................................................................................................................. 14 
Strategy of the KION Group .............................................................................................................. 15 
Key strategic measures in 2012 .................................................................................................... 16 
The segments and their products and services................................................................................. 18 
Linde Material Handling (LMH) segment ....................................................................................... 18 
STILL segment .............................................................................................................................. 19 
Financial Services (FS) segment................................................................................................... 19 
Other segment ............................................................................................................................... 20 
Value-based management ................................................................................................................. 20 
Economic environment .......................................................................................................................... 22 
Macroeconomic conditions ................................................................................................................ 22 
Sectoral conditions ............................................................................................................................ 22 
Sales markets ................................................................................................................................ 22 
Procurement markets .................................................................................................................... 24 
Financial markets .............................................................................................................................. 24 
Regulatory situation ........................................................................................................................... 25 
Financial position and financial performance ........................................................................................ 26 
Overall assessment of the economic situation .................................................................................. 26 
Business situation and financial performance of the KION Group .................................................... 26 
Key influencing factors .................................................................................................................. 26 
Order intake ................................................................................................................................... 27 
Revenue ........................................................................................................................................ 27 
Earnings ......................................................................................................................................... 30 
Business situation and financial performance of the LMH segment ................................................. 33 
Revenue ........................................................................................................................................ 33 
Earnings ......................................................................................................................................... 33 
Business situation and financial performance of the STILL segment ............................................... 34 
Revenue ........................................................................................................................................ 34 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 4 of 69 

Earnings ......................................................................................................................................... 34 
Business situation and financial performance of the Financial Services (FS) segment ................... 35 
Business situation .......................................................................................................................... 35 
Financial performance ................................................................................................................... 35 
Business situation and financial performance of the Other segment ................................................ 35 
Business situation .......................................................................................................................... 35 
Financial performance ................................................................................................................... 35 
Financial position ............................................................................................................................... 36 
Principles and objectives of financial management ...................................................................... 36 
Main financing activities in 2012 .................................................................................................... 36 
Analysis of capital structure ........................................................................................................... 37 
Analysis of capital expenditure ...................................................................................................... 40 
Analysis of liquidity ........................................................................................................................ 41 
Net assets .......................................................................................................................................... 43 
Investor relations ............................................................................................................................... 44 
Non-financial performance indicators .................................................................................................... 46 
Human resources .............................................................................................................................. 46 
HR strategy .................................................................................................................................... 46 
Headcount ..................................................................................................................................... 47 
Diversity ......................................................................................................................................... 48 
Development of specialist workers and executives ....................................................................... 48 
Training and professional development ......................................................................................... 48 
Health and safety in the workplace ............................................................................................... 49 
Research and development............................................................................................................... 50 
Strategic focus of research and development ............................................................................... 50 
Key R&D figures ............................................................................................................................ 50 
Focus of R&D in 2012 ................................................................................................................... 51 
Customers ......................................................................................................................................... 54 
Customer focus at KION ................................................................................................................ 54 
Customer-related performance indicators ..................................................................................... 54 
Marketing and sales activities........................................................................................................ 55 
Sustainability ..................................................................................................................................... 56 
Events after the balance sheet date ...................................................................................................... 57 
Expected developments ........................................................................................................................ 58 
Opportunities report ........................................................................................................................... 58 
Risk report ......................................................................................................................................... 59 
Principles of risk management ...................................................................................................... 59 

Material  features  of  the  internal  control  and  risk  management  system  pertaining  to  the  (Group) 
accounting process ........................................................................................................................ 59 

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 5 of 69 

Market risks ................................................................................................................................... 60 
Competition risks ........................................................................................................................... 61 
Research and development risks .................................................................................................. 61 
Strategic risks ................................................................................................................................ 62 
Procurement and sales risks ......................................................................................................... 62 
Production risks ............................................................................................................................. 63 
IT risks ........................................................................................................................................... 63 
Financial risks ................................................................................................................................ 63 
Accounting risks arising from goodwill and the brands ................................................................. 64 
Risks from financial services ......................................................................................................... 65 
Human resources risks .................................................................................................................. 65 
Legal risks ...................................................................................................................................... 66 
External risks ................................................................................................................................. 66 
Aggregate risk................................................................................................................................ 66 
Outlook .............................................................................................................................................. 67 
Expected macroeconomic conditions ............................................................................................ 67 
Expected sectoral conditions ......................................................................................................... 67 
Expected business situation and financial performance ............................................................... 67 
Expected financial position ............................................................................................................ 68 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 6 of 69 

Highlights in 2012 

The KION Group can look back on a successful financial year 2012: a record result through 
strategic measures, stable demand and a further increase in profitability 

•  Order intake (€4,700 million) was up from last yea r despite the downturn in the global market  
•  Consolidated revenue increased by 8.2 per cent to €4,727 million 
•  The adjusted EBIT margin reached a new high of 9.3 per cent as a result of structural 

improvements  

•  The Group’s capital structure was significantly improved following transactions with  

Weichai Power  

•  The foundation was laid for further growth in emerging markets 

KION Group key figures

in € million

Revenue
  In Germany
  Outside Germany
Order intake
Order backlog

EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA¹
EBIT
Adjusted EBIT¹
Net income (loss)

Cash and cash equivalents²
Financial debt³
Net financial debt
Equity

Adjusted EBITDA Margin¹
Adjusted EBIT Margin¹

Free cash flow4

Capital expenditures 5
Total spending on R&D
R&D spending/revenue (%)

Employees incl. apprentices and 
trainees as at 31 December6
R&D employees

2012

2011

2010

Changes 
2012/2011

4,727
1,225
3,501
4,700
808

915
747
550
438
161

562
2,352
1,790
660

15.8%
9.3%

518

155
120
2.5%

4,368
1,175
3,194
4,682
953

569
665
213
365
-93 

373
3,005
2,631
-488 

15.2%
8.3%

234

133
120
2.8%

3,534
900
2,634
3,860
801

380
462
35
139
-197 

253
2,879
2,626
-400 

13.1%
3.9%

8.2%
4.3%
9.6%
0.4%
-15.2%

60.8%
12.3%
>100%
20.2%
>100%

50.6%
-21.7%
-32.0%
>100%

-
-

76

>100%

123
103
2.9%

16.6%
-0.1%
-

-3.0%
-5.9%

21,215
847

21,862
900

19,968
827

1 Adjusted for KION acquisition items and one-off items
2 Cash and cash equivalents
3 Financial liabilities are defined as non-current and current financial liabilities
4 Free cash flow  is defined as Cash flow  from operating activities plus Cash flow  used in investing activities
5 Excluding leased assets and rental assets
6 Number of employees in full-time equivalents as at 31 December

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 7 of 69 

COMPANY PROFILE AND STRATEGY 

The KION Group is a leading provider of industrial trucks and logistics solutions. By offering a broad 
product range, tailored service and system solutions and financing options, KION helps its customers 
to  efficiently  manage  their  internal  production  processes  and  global  supply  chains.  KION  has  six 
brands  –  Linde,  STILL,  Fenwick,  OM-STILL,  Baoli  and  Voltas  MH  –  and  is  the  second  largest 
manufacturer of forklift trucks, warehouse trucks and other industrial trucks in the world. It operates 15 
production facilities and eleven research and development centres – and has more than 1,100 sales 
and service outlets in 111 countries.  

Group structure, organisation, and management  

Shareholders 

The consolidated financial statements cover the group of consolidated companies belonging to KION 
Holding 1 GmbH. As at the reporting date of 31 December 2012, KION Holding 1 GmbH indirectly held 
all  shares  in  KION  GROUP  GmbH,  which  acts  as  the  strategic  management  holding  company  and 
operational parent company of the KION Group (also referred to below as simply 'KION').  

The number of shareholders increased in the year under review. In December 2012, the shareholders’ 
meeting of KION Holding 1 GmbH passed a resolution to increase the Company’s share capital. After 
the  capital  increase, Weichai  Power  Co.,  Ltd.  (referred  to  below  as  'Weichai  Power')  holds  a  25  per 
cent  share  in  KION  Holding  1  GmbH  through  its  subsidiary  Weichai  Power  (Luxembourg)  Holding  
S.à  r.l.  The  contribution  amount  was  paid  by  Weichai  Power  on  27  December  2012.  The  capital 
increase was entered in the commercial register in January 2013 (see ‘Events after the balance sheet 
date’  on  page  57).  The  remaining  75 per  cent  of  the  shares  will  be  held  on  the  one  hand  indirectly 
through investment vehicles and subsidiaries of former shareholders Goldman Sachs Capital Partners 
and  KKR  &  Co.  L.P.,  and  on  the  other  hand  by  an  management  participation  company.  The  latter 
company manages about 5.7 per cent of the management holdings in KION Holding 1 GmbH. 

Chart 2: Shareholders of the KION Group 

1) Management participation of around 5.7 per cent included in 75 per cent share in KION Holding 1 GmbH  
2) Weichai Power with further options to acquire additional shares  
3) Under certain conditions Weichai Power’s share in Linde Hydraulics can be increased further. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 8 of 69 

The acquisition of shares by way of capital contributions made by Weichai Power further strengthened 
KION's  capital  structure.  A  detailed  explanation  can  be  found  in  the  presentation  of  the  financial 
position  (see  pages  36  to  42).  Weichai  Power  has  a  call  option  vis-à-vis  Superlift  Holding  S.à  r.l.  to 
acquire a further 3.3 per cent of the shares, which it can exercise before mid-2013 or, should KION be 
floated on the stock market in future, during the three months after flotation. Moreover, in the event of 
flotation on the stock market, Weichai Power can increase its equity investment (with full recognition of 
the  resulting  dilutive  effects)  to  33.3 per  cent  by  means  of  a  capital  increase,  if  it  previously  held  at 
least 28.3 per cent of the shares, or to 30.0 per cent, if it previously held less than 28.3 per cent of the 
shares. 

The acquisition of shares is part of a long-term strategic partnership between the individual companies 
of KION and Weichai Power, at the core of which is close cooperation in the field of industrial trucks 
and hydraulic drive technology (further details can be found in the section on strategy, page 16). Under 
the  agreement,  Weichai  Power  also  acquired  a  70 per  cent  controlling  interest  in  Linde  Hydraulics 
GmbH  &  Co.  KG  (referred  to  below  as  'Linde  Hydraulics')  with  effect  from  27  December  2012.  The 
majority  of  the  former  hydraulics  business  of  Linde  Material  Handling  GmbH  (referred  to  below  as 
'LMH GmbH') was transferred into this company. LMH GmbH continues to hold the remaining 30 per 
cent  as  a  strategic  investment. Weichai  Power’s  share  in  Linde  Hydraulics  can  be  increased  further 
under certain conditions (see note 6 on page 8). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 9 of 69 

Segment structure 

KION is represented in the market by two global brands – Linde and STILL – and four regional brands: 
Fenwick (France), OM-STILL (Italy), Baoli (China and other emerging markets) and Voltas MH (India). 
While the brand companies have full operational  and commercial responsibility  within their particular 
markets, KION GROUP GmbH acts as a strategic management holding company and is responsible 
for the cross-brand Group strategy as well as for key Group functions, for which it defines group-wide 
business standards.  

For  internal  management  purposes,  KION  has  divided  its  business  into  operating  segments  that 
correspond  to  the  reportable  segments  required  by  international  financial  reporting  standards  (IFRS 
8).  KION  changed  this  segment  structure  in  2012,  after  having  already  put  in  place  the  structures 
required  from  an  organisational  and  company  law  perspective  to  manage  and  show  the  financial 
services  activities  of  the  Group  separately  in  2012.  These  are  now  aggregated  in  the  Financial 
Services segment. The figures for 2012 and 2011 have been reported in accordance with the revised 
segment structure as shown below.  

The  Linde  Material  Handling  (LMH)  segment  encompasses  the  Linde,  Fenwick  and  Baoli  brands. 
The hydraulics business was also part of the LMH segment until KION sold its majority stake in Linde 
Hydraulics  on  27  December  2012.  Linde  Hydraulics  is  recognised  as  an  affiliated  company  in  the 
consolidated financial statements (using the equity method). 

The STILL segment comprises the STILL and OM-STILL brands.  

Spare  parts  business  and  service  form  an  integral  part  of  the  LMH  and  STILL  segments  and 
complement their product portfolios. However, financing business, which promotes sales, is assigned 
to the new Financial Services (FS) segment.  

The Other segment essentially consists of internal activities relating to IT and logistics as well as the 
group  holding  activities  of  the  KION  Group.  The  Voltas  MH  brand  is  also  assigned  to  the  Other 
segment.  

Chart 3: Segments  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 10 of 69 

Management and control 

KION follows generally accepted standards of sound, responsible corporate governance. The German 
Corporate Governance Code (DCGK) provides the framework for management and control structures 
and  procedures.  Further  information  about  corporate  governance  at  KION  is  available  on  the 
Company's website (www.kiongroup.com).  

The  Executive  Board  of  KION  GROUP  GmbH  is  responsible  for  the  operational  management  of  the 
KION Group, the details of which are set out in the rules of procedure. As at 31 December 2012 the 
responsibilities of the Executive Board members were as follows: 

Gordon  Riske,  Chief  Executive  Officer  (CEO),  is  responsible  for  strategy,  communications, 
governance and compliance, market intelligence and the Group's Asian business.  

Dr Thomas Toepfer was appointed to the Executive Board in the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) 
with effect from 1 September 2012. He is in charge of finance, the FS segment, IT activities, mergers 
&  acquisitions  and  investor  relations.  He  replaced  Harald  Pinger,  who  left  at  his  own  request  on 
31 August 2012.  

Until  his  departure  at  the  end  of  2012,  Otmar  Hauck  was  Chief  Operating  Officer  (COO)  and  was 
responsible for quality, central operations, purchasing, logistics and product development in the Group. 
No  new  COO  was  appointed  for  KION  GROUP  GmbH.  After  Mr  Hauck  left,  responsibility  for 
purchasing passed to Dr Thomas Toepfer, while CEO Gordon Riske took charge of KION Warehouse 
Systems. 

Until  his  retirement  on  11  January  2013,  Klaus  Hofer  was  responsible  for  human  resources,  legal 
affairs,  health  &  safety  and  internal  audit,  and  was  also  KION's  Labour  Relations  Director.  His 
responsibilities have been transferred to Gordon Riske and Dr Thomas Toepfer. 

The  Executive  Board  was  expanded  in  January  2013  in  response  to  the  growing  significance  of 
business  in  Asia  and  to  make  the  management  of  the  Linde  and  STILL  brands  more  involved  in 
running the Group as a whole (see 'Events after the balance sheet date', page 57).  

The  Executive  Board  maintains  a  relationship  of  trust  with,  and  is  monitored  by,  the  Company's 
Supervisory  Board.  The  Supervisory  Board  consists  of  six  shareholder  representatives,  who  are 
chosen  by  the  shareholders'  meeting,  and  six  employee  representatives.  It  advises  the  Executive 
Board  in  its  handling  of  significant  matters  and  business  transactions.  The  Supervisory  Board  has 
created a Human Resources Committee and an Audit Committee to increase the efficiency of its work. 
It  also  has  an  Arbitration  Committee  pursuant  to  section  27  (3)  German  Codetermination  Act 
(MitbestG), which meets if required to do so in circumstances specified by law or by the memorandum 
and articles of association. The composition of the Supervisory Board is described in note 44 on pages 
86 and 87. 

In the  year under review the remuneration paid to the Executive Board comprised a fixed salary and 
non-cash  benefits  (including  pension  entitlements)  and  performance-related  components.  The  basic 
principles of the remuneration structure and the total amounts paid to the members of the Executive 
Board and Supervisory Board are set  out  in  the  notes to the consolidated financial statements (note 
43, pages 84 and 85).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 11 of 69 

Business model and market positioning 

Business model 

KION earns most of its consolidated revenue from the sale of industrial trucks. In the reporting  year, 
new  products  accounted  for  56 per  cent  of  the  Group's  revenue,  while  service  business  (including 
spare parts) generated 40 per cent. Four per cent related to hydraulics components, which were sold 
to Weichai Power to the furthest extent possible with effect from 27 December 2012.  

So  that  it  can  offer  comprehensive  support  to  customers  worldwide,  KION  covers  every  step  of  the 
value chain: product development, manufacturing, sales and logistics, spare parts business, financial 
services and system and software solutions.  

The  purpose  of  research  and  development  activities  (R&D)  is  to  consolidate  and  extend  KION's 
technology leadership. 847 developers are employed across the KION brand companies. The focus of 
the Group's R&D activities is described on page 50. 

The  different  industrial  trucks  are  manufactured  at  production  facilities  situated  at  strategically 
beneficial locations within the global network. Owing to the particular requirements of its business and 
to  ensure  security  of  supply,  KION  manufactures  most  of  the  major  components  itself  –  notably  lift 
masts,  axles,  counterweights  and  safety  equipment.  Other  components  –  such  as  electronic 
components, rechargeable batteries, engine components and industrial tyres – are purchased through 
KION's  global  procurement  organisation. There  are  also  long-term  supply  agreements for  hydraulics 
components with Weichai Power (see p. 16 for further information about the strategic partnership with 
Weichai Power). KION operates a total of 15 production facilities in eight countries. 

The  product  portfolio  includes  counterbalance  trucks  powered  by  an  internal  combustion  engine  or 
electric drive, warehouse technology (ride-on and hand-operated industrial trucks) and towing vehicles 
for  industrial  applications.  It  covers  all  load  capacities,  from  1  tonne  to  significantly  in  excess  of  40 
tonnes.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 12 of 69 

Table 1: KION’s production and major logistics sites 

Location 

Products/use 

Linde Material Handling 

Germany 
   Aschaffenburg 

   Weilbach  
   Kahl  
France 
   Châtellerault  
UK 
   Merthyr Tydfil1)  
   Basingstoke  
Czech Republic 
   Český Krumlov 
USA 
   Summerville  
China 
   Xiamen  
   Jingjiang  

STILL 

Germany 
   Hamburg  
   Reutlingen  
   Geisa  
Italy 
   Lainate  
   Luzzara 
Brazil 
   Indaiatuba / São Paulo 

Other (Voltas MH) 

India 
   Pune  

IC trucks, E trucks, warehouse trucks 

Components production 
Spare part warehousing, Components production 

Components production 

Heavy IC trucks1), container trucks 
Spare part warehousing 

Components production 

IC trucks, E trucks, warehouse trucks 

IC trucks, E trucks, container and heavy IC trucks, warehouse trucks 
IC trucks, E trucks, warehouse trucks 

IC trucks, E trucks, warehouse trucks 
VNA warehouse trucks 
Components production 

Spare part warehousing 
Warehouse trucks 

IC trucks, warehouse trucks 

IC trucks, E trucks, warehouse trucks 

1)  Consultations ongoing concerning restructuring the container handler and heavy forklift truck business and Konecranes taking over certain 

assets of the container division (see ‘Events after the balance sheet date’, page 57) 

Revenue  from  the  high-margin  service  business  stabilises  consolidated  revenue  and  reduces 
dependency  on  market  cycles.  KION's  sales  and  service  network  encompasses  more  than  1,100 
outlets in over 100 countries. Of the total sales and service workforce – which is predominantly made 
up of service technicians – about two thirds are employed in the KION companies. In various markets, 
KION relies on external dealers. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 13 of 69 

The  service  business  caters  to  an  active  fleet  of  over  1  million  industrial  trucks.  Europe  has  the 
greatest concentration of service outlets. In established markets, a significant proportion of services is 
covered by leasing arrangements and is offered for the entire term of the lease. Service business also 
includes individual orders for repairs and maintenance, spare parts, used trucks and rental trucks.  

Financial services (see page  19  and 20) support product sales  in all brand companies. They  largely 
consist of long and short-term rental, and customised fleet management.  

Market and influencing factors 

Industrial  trucks  are  used  for  a  wide  variety  of  applications.  Material  handling  products  are  used  for 
tasks such as loading and unloading, linking production steps, moving pallets in logistics centres and 
transferring  containers  in  ports.  They  therefore  form  part  of  the  production  processes  and  supply 
chains  in  different  industries  around  the  world.  Measured  in  terms  of  unit  sales  of  new  trucks,  the 
growth  of  the  industrial  truck  market  has  exceeded  global  economic  growth  over  the  past  ten  years 
(2002 to 2012), rising at an average of around 5 per cent per year.  

In KION's view, the significant influencing factors with a sustained impact are the following: 

•  Mature  markets  are  generating  strong  demand  for  trucks  to  replace  old  ones  as  customers 
have  not  made  replacement  investments  when  required  in  recent  years,  as  a  result  of  the 
financial  and  economic  crisis.  KION  estimates  that  around  90  per  cent  of  sales  in  western 
Europe are currently accounted for by replacement investments. 

• 

In  China  and  other  emerging  markets,  economic  growth  and  the  increasing  need  for 
infrastructure  solutions  are  creating  disproportionately  strong  demand  for  inexpensive 
industrial trucks. 

•  As a result of globalisation, individual steps in the value chain are increasingly being moved to 

different regions, causing greater demand for transport services and logistics solutions. 

•  As  the  technology  in  industrial  trucks  becomes more complex,  their  users  are  more  likely  to 

outsource service functions. The demand for efficient fleet management is also rising.  

•  The market  as  a  whole  will  continue  to  depend  heavily  on  economic  conditions  in  key  sales 
markets, with the level of capital investment and the growth in global trade being particularly 
crucial.  During  an  economic  downturn  customers  tend  to  delay  purchasing  any  new  trucks 
they need, whereas they buy more new trucks during an upturn. The service business, which 
is  generally  less  cyclical,  is  affected  by  truck  utilisation,  which  itself  depends  partly  on 
macroeconomic activity. In addition, the overall market is subject to regulatory intervention, in 
particular in relation to emission levels, production standards and workplace safety standards 
(see page 25). 

Measured  in  terms  of  units  ordered,  almost  half  of  the  volume  of  new  business  (46 per  cent)  was 
accounted for by counterbalance trucks with an internal combustion engine – with higher proportions 
in  China  and  other  emerging  markets.  Counterbalance  trucks  with  an  electric  drive  accounted  for 
around 16 per cent and warehouse technology for 38 per cent. 

The products in the premium price segment are characterised by an above-average useful life, driver 
productivity, comfort and high performance, combined with lower running and energy costs. This price 
segment accounted for 27 per cent of the new trucks ordered according to a study conducted in 2012, 
although the proportions were lower in China and other emerging markets. The middle price segment 
(value) generated 48 per cent of orders. The low price segment accounted for 25 per cent of the global 
market; it is the main segment in China.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 14 of 69 

Broken  down  by  region,  Europe  generated  33 per  cent  of  total  new  trucks  sales,  followed  by  China 
with 23 per cent and North America with 19 per cent.  

Market position 

KION is one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial trucks owing to its global presence and 
volume of revenue. Measured in terms of units sold, KION consolidated its position as the number one 
in  Europe  and  the  number  two  worldwide  in  the  year  under  review.  Based  on  the  sales  figures  for 
2012,  KION's  market  share  was  15 per  cent  worldwide  and  34 per  cent  in  Europe.  KION  is  ranked 
third in the Chinese market behind two domestic manufacturers, making it the largest foreign producer. 
It is one of the leading manufacturers in Brazil – the largest individual market in South America – and 
is the market leader for electric forklift trucks and warehouse trucks.  

Besides its strong market position in established markets and growth regions, KION has a number of 
other competitive advantages: 

As  a  result  of  its  multi-brand  strategy  and  broad  range  of  products  and  services,  KION  is 
represented  in  all  the  major  sales  regions,  product  segments  and  price  segments  that  make  up  the 
industrial  truck  market.  The  multi-brand  strategy  has  helped  KION  to  systematically  expand  its 
presence in the emerging markets in recent years.  

KION's  position  as  a  leading  technology  provider  secures  the  status  of  LMH  and  STILL  as 
premium  brands:  customers  can  contain  the  total  cost  of  ownership  (TCO)  owing  to  the  trucks'  cost 
efficiency,  high  productivity  and  relatively  low  maintenance  and  to  the  high  residual  values  of  used 
trucks. This technology leadership position is based, among other factors, on KION's pioneering role in 
hydrostatic  and  diesel-electric  drive  systems  and  on  its  product  innovations  in  the  field  of  energy-
efficient  and  low-emission  drive  technologies  (electric  drives,  hybrid  drives,  fuel  cells).  KION  is  also 
one  of  the  leading  companies  with  regard  to  workplace  safety  and  ergonomics  (see  the  section  on 
research  and  development,  pages  50  to  53).  Compared  with  other  companies  in  the  industry,  KION 
spends  a  high  proportion  of  its  revenue  on  research  and  development.  By  operating  eleven  local 
development  centres,  KION  ensures  that  it  can  fully  cater  to  the  specific  needs  of  customers  in  the 
different markets. There are two development centres in China, one in Brazil and one in India.  

KION  has  an  integrated  business  model,  which  is  based  on  its  presence  in  all  major  product 
categories and the fact that the service business is intrinsically tied into the new truck business. The 
service  business  generates  above-average  margins  for  KION  and  is  less  affected  by  economic 
fluctuations. In addition, the growing number of new trucks fitted with customer-specific equipment is 
also stabilising the service business. The associated production, service and sales processes present 
a significant barrier to market entry for competitors, as does the extensive network of service outlets. 

KION's  attractive  profit  margins  are  derived  from  the  premium  positioning  of  its  brands  and  the 
significant proportion of revenue contributed by its high-margin service business. Economies of scale, 
diversification advantages and synergies resulting from its global position also benefit KION. 

Moreover, profitability has been improved by implementing effective measures to boost efficiency and 
lower costs, for example during the financial and economic crisis in 2008 and 2009. Consolidation of 
production facilities (see page 17) has also increased capacity utilisation. The lower level of fixed costs 
and the resulting more flexible cost structure have enabled KION to improve its profitability and put it 
in a better position to absorb the impact of economic downturns than in the past. Modular and platform 
strategies in product development and production also help to increase cost efficiency.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 15 of 69 

Strategy of the KION Group  

KION's  strategy,  which  is  centred  on  value  and  growth,  is  based  on  the  Group's  aforementioned 
strengths. The strategic objectives are: 

1.  Strengthen KION’s leading position in western European core markets  

KION is consolidating its position as the number one in Europe's industrial truck market with customer-
focused  technological  innovations  and  a  high  proportion  of  trucks  with  bespoke  fittings.  In  recent 
years,  the  proportion  of  revenue  spent  on  research  and  development  has  been  above  the  market 
average and stood at 2.5 per cent in the year under review. KION aims to increase customer benefits 
in  all  price  segments  by  introducing  innovative  drive  systems,  advanced  ergonomics,  intelligent 
intralogistics solutions and other developments.  

2.  Expand the range of services in European markets and in growth regions 

KION is continually extending its portfolio of services and improving their quality at every stage of the 
product lifecycle. This includes servicing, maintenance and spare parts as well as fleet management 
solutions, intralogistics processes, efficient supply chains and IT systems. Financial services are also 
a  key  component  of  the  service  portfolio.  KION  has  an  installed  base  of  more  than  1  million  trucks 
from which to expand its service business. The Company also intends to increase its market share by, 
for example, opening additional service outlets in attractive growth markets and stepping up the short-
term rental business.  

3.  Tap the full market potential of growth regions 

KION  wants  to  take  full  advantage  of  buoyant  demand  in  the  BRIC  countries  (Brazil,  Russia,  India, 
China) and other emerging markets. That is why it is launching region-specific products in fast-growing 
price  segments  and  strengthening  its  local  production  and  sales  network. To  do  so,  KION  is  making 
targeted investments in production capacity, product development and the sales and service network. 
It is also weighing up whether to acquire manufacturing companies and dealers in growth regions. The 
strategic  partnership  entered  into  with  Weichai  Power  in  2012  will  play  a  key  role  in  strengthening 
KION's position in the Chinese and other Asian growth markets, while KION gains access to the lower 
price segment in India through Voltas MH.  

The  range  of  products  and  services  is  tailored  to  region-specific  requirements.  To  this  end,  KION 
operates  a  multi-brand  strategy  in  the  different  regions.  Region-specific  products  based  on  low-cost 
production  platforms  are  the  preferred  option  in  the  fast-growing  emerging  markets  of Asia,  Central 
America  and  South  America.  For  this  reason,  LMH  and  STILL  are  positioned  accordingly  in  those 
markets,  with  the  Baoli  and  Voltas  MH  brand  companies  also  playing  a  key  role.  Other  external 
opportunities  for  growth  are  examined  on  an  ongoing  basis,  including  in  relation  to  the  sales  and 
service network. Fast-growing emerging markets accounted for 30 per cent of consolidated revenue in 
2012, compared with 22 per cent in 2011. 

4.  Optimise production, leverage group-wide synergies and thereby reduce costs 

Over the past few years KION has streamlined its production capacity in developed markets, bringing 
about  improvements  to  capacity  utilisation  and  cost  efficiency. At  the  same  time  it  has  created  new 
capacity in Brazil, India and China. This transfer of some aspects of production to emerging markets is 
expected to continue.  

Another way in which KION improves efficiency and increases margins is by operating a cross-brand 
purchasing  organisation.  Over  the  next  few  years  it  plans  to  increase  its  purchasing  volume  from 
emerging markets from 28 per cent in 2012 to as much as 40 per cent. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 16 of 69 

Although  the  brand  companies  in  the  KION  Group  are  largely  responsible  for  their  own  market 
activities,  KION  harnesses  group-wide  synergies  and  ensures  that  resources  are  used  efficiently  by 
centralising certain functions. Central departments are responsible for quality and production control, 
logistics and IT. This makes it possible to establish best practice across the Group. There are also a 
number of research and development initiatives aimed at cutting costs, improving quality and speeding 
up  the  development  process.  For  example,  KION  intends  to  increase  the  proportion  of  standard 
modules used by multiple brand companies without compromising the brands' independence.  

Key strategic measures in 2012 

Tap full market potential in growth regions  

The  primary  objective  of  the  strategic  partnership  that  KION  entered  into  with Weichai  Power  at  the 
end  of  2012  is  strategic  collaboration  on  hydraulic  pumps,  engines,  valves  and  drive  technologies. 
Weichai Power and KION have also agreed to cooperate in a number of strategic areas, such as the 
supply  of  engines,  parts  and  components. The  aim  for  both  companies  here  is  to  foster  growth  and 
competitiveness in the respective product segments. 

Under  an  agreement  reached  between  the  KION  Group  and  Weichai  Power,  the  partnership  also 
extends  to  the  sharing  of  best  practice  and  the  development  by  Weichai  Power  of  engines  for 
installation  in  certain  industrial  trucks.  Additional  possibilities  are  also  being  considered,  such  as 
consolidating  the  forklift  truck  business  in  China.  An  agreement  for  the  joint  use  of  sales  and 
purchasing structures has already been reached. Weichai Power has more than 500 service outlets in 
China,  which  KION  can  use  to  extend  its  own  sales  and  service  network.  Other  advantages  include 
the strengthening of the industrial base in Europe and access to Weichai Power's suppliers in China 
and Europe. 

The  partnership  generates  substantial  economies  of  scale  for  Linde  Hydraulics  and  enables  it  to 
improve its international competitive position. On 27 December 2012 Linde Hydraulics entered into a 
ten-year purchase and supply agreement with LMH GmbH, which includes an exclusivity rule for the 
first five years. There is also a licence agreement that ensures Linde Material Handling GmbH (LMH 
GmbH) has access to all the patents necessary for its industrial truck business.  

Weichai  Power  paid  a  cash  contribution  (including  premium)  of  €467  million  into  KION  Holding  1 
GmbH  to  take  over  a  25 per  cent  of  the  Company’s  share  capital  as  part  of  a  capital  increase. The 
price to acquire 70 per cent of the shares (including options) in Linde Hydraulics GmbH & Co. KG was 
€271 million. 

The  partnership  with  Weichai  Power  improves  KION’s  market  presence  in  China  via  KION  Baoli 
(Jiangsu) Forklift Co., Ltd. (referred to below as 'KION Baoli') – the regional brand for industrial trucks 
– following LMH GmbH's acquisition of the outstanding 2.7 per cent of the shares. The transaction was 
completed  at  the  end  of August  2012.  In  addition,  Baoli  also  has  a  presence  in  additional  emerging 
markets, particularly in the Near and Middle East, India and Southeast Asia, but also in Australia. By 
collaborating with Weichai Power, Baoli will be able to expand its product range in the short term, and 
consequently be an even more attractive business partner for distributors. 

A  second  major  milestone  was  reached  in  the  Indian  market.  KION  acquired  the  outstanding  34 per 
cent of shares in Voltas Material Handling Private Limited (referred to below as 'Voltas MH') with effect 
from 2 November 2012. Founded in 2011 as a means of strategic cooperation between KION and the 
Indian  conglomerate  Voltas  Limited,  Voltas  MH  develops,  manufactures,  sells  and  maintains  forklift 
trucks  and  warehouse  trucks,  focusing  on  India's  high-volume  market.  The  acquisition  of  the 
outstanding  shares  in  Voltas  MH  enables  KION  to  tap  into  the  potential  of  the  Indian  market  more 
efficiently. Voltas MH's sales and service network encompasses 59 dealers. In the second quarter of 
2012  Voltas  MH  opened  a  new  production  facility  in  Pune,  where  it  builds  smaller  counterbalance 
trucks powered by an internal combustion engine or electric drive as well as warehouse trucks.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 17 of 69 

By setting up a new  legal  entity, KION South Asia  Pte. Ltd., in  Singapore  in April  2012,  KION put in 
place the  necessary organisational structure to fully  unlock the market potential  in other countries of 
South and Southeast Asia. KION South Asia is enabling the steady expansion of the local sales and 
service networks of the Linde, STILL and Baoli brands. 

On  1  September  2012,  KION  South  America  launched  production  operations  at  its  new  plant  in 
Indaiatuba/São  Paulo,  Brazil,  thereby  doubling  its  capacity.  By  pooling  production  in  São  Paulo  and 
stepping  up  cross-brand  cooperation,  KION  can  leverage  synergies  and  respond  faster  to  customer 
requirements.  KION's  strategic  competitive  position  has  improved  significantly  because  it  can  now 
manufacture  counterbalance  trucks  (with  an  internal  combustion  engine)  locally  in  addition  to 
warehouse  trucks.  Imports  of  trucks,  which  are  subject  to  high  customs  duties,  can  therefore  be 
reduced  significantly.  The  new  facility  also  has  better  transport  connections.  The  warehouse 
technology  factory  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  has  closed,  and  the  building  and  site  have  been  sold.  Some 
employees  have  transferred  to  the  new  plant.  KION  helped  those  unwilling  to  move  to  find  new 
employment.  

Consolidation of market position in Europe and expansion of service network 

The sales and service network was strengthened through acquisitions and partnerships in 2012. One 
of  KION's  sales  channels  in  the  large  Russian  market  is  the  sales  company  Liftec,  which  has  been 
part  of  LMH  since  November  2011.  In  the  reporting  year  LMH  also  acquired  Liftec's  business  in 
Kazakhstan  (February  2012)  and  Ukraine  (July  2012).  This  has  given  LMH  direct  access  to  these 
markets  and  will  enable  it  to  expand  its  sales  and  service  structures  in  Eastern  Europe  and  Central 
Asia.  STILL  continued  to  consistently  expand  its  service  and  distribution  organisations  in  growth 
regions,  by  opening  new  branches  in  Russia  and  Poland,  and  its  own Asian  representative  office  in 
Singapore.  In  February  2012  LMH  acquired  the  outstanding  51 per  cent  of  shares  in  the  sales 
company Linde Creighton Ltd., West Bromwich, United Kingdom. This was another measure aimed at 
strengthening  LMH's  presence  in  the  United  Kingdom  following  the  acquisition  of  the  outstanding 
shares  in  Linde  Castle  Ltd.  and  Linde  Sterling  Ltd.  in  2011.  Between  them,  the  three  companies 
employ over 650 people. LMH has also restructured its sales operations in Croatia by entering into a 
joint venture with a local dealer.  

Increase in cost efficiency through optimisation of production and leverage of group-wide synergies  

In  2012  KION  continued  to  rigorously  implement  the  extensive  restructuring  and  consolidation 
programme  that  it  had  begun  in  2009  in  light  of  the  financial  and  economic  crisis.  The  long-term 
optimisation  of  production  capacity  has  already  begun  to  pay  off  and  was  a  considerable  factor  in 
improving  profitability  in  2012.  By  making  its  cost  structure  more  flexible,  KION  can  take  faster  and 
more  extensive  action  in  an  economic  downturn.  The  relocation  of  individual  warehouse  technology 
production  plants  within  Europe  was  completed  in  the  year  under  review.  Production  operations  in 
Montataire, France, were transferred to Luzzara in Italy, while forklift truck production in Bari, Italy, was 
moved to Hamburg, Germany. Furthermore, at the end of 2012 the decision was made to carry out the 
process  of  restructuring  the  container  handler  and  heavy  forklift  truck  business  at  the  Merthyr Tydfil 
site (Wales, UK), which should improve the competitiveness of both segments in the long term, as well 
as increase the efficiency of KION’s European production network. Steps were also taken to increase 
efficiency in purchasing and product development.  

KION expects that the strategic partnership with Weichai Power will also help to boost cost efficiency, 
notably through the joint use of sales structures and improved access to low-cost sources of supply for 
components.  

In  addition,  KION  has  initiated  measures  to  improve  cost  efficiency  in  research  and  development  by 
using  module  and  platform  strategies  (see  page  50).  The  aim  here  is  to  reduce  the  complexity  and 
diversity of products and accelerate the development process. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 18 of 69 

The segments and their products and services 

Table 2: Segment overview 

Segments 2012

in € million

LMH
STILL
Financial Services
Other
Consolidation/reconciliation

Total

Revenue Year-on-year 

change

Adjusted 
EBIT¹

Year-on-year 
change

EBIT

Year-on-year 
change

Em-
ployees²

Year-on-year 
change

3,132
1,677
509
251
-842 

4,727

9.8%
0.6%
6.2%
12.4%
0.0%

8.2%

330
123
1
44
-61 

438

18.3%
22.4%
-48.1%
-34.6%
0.0%

20.2%

523
98
1
-12 
-61 

550

>100% 13,148
7,253
>100%
112
-48.1%
702
<-100%
− 
0.0%

>100% 21,215

-4.6%
-0.5%
16.7%
2.0%
-

-3.0%

¹ Adjusted for KION acquisition items and one-off items
² Number of employees in full-time equivalents as at 31 December

Linde Material Handling (LMH) segment 

The LMH segment encompasses the products and services of the Linde, Fenwick and Baoli brands.  

Linde is a global premium brand and a technology leader. Its USP is its hydrostatic drive technology, 
which  gives  it  a  significant  competitive  edge  worldwide  and  enables  it  to  meet  customer’s  high 
standards  of  technology,  efficiency,  functionality  and  design.  The  product  portfolio  ranges  from 
warehouse  trucks  to  heavy  trucks  and  container  handlers  and  caters  to  all  of  the  major  application 
areas. Linde has been  developing and manufacturing electric drive systems for decades  and makes 
the resulting expertise available to external customers for use in a variety of applications.  

In France, Linde products are sold under the Fenwick brand. The Baoli brand covers the lower price 
segment  in  China  and  other  growth  markets  in Asia,  eastern  Europe,  the  Middle  East  and Africa  as 
well as Central and South America.  

LMH's strategic investment in Linde Hydraulics means it continues to hold a stake in one of the major 
producers  of  hydraulic  components. An  exclusive  contract  ensures  the  supply  of  these  components 
over the long term, which provide the basis for the Linde trucks' precise lifting and handling capabilities 
as  well  as  their  low  fuel  consumption.  LMH  will  continue  to  exploit  the  synergies  between  the 
technologies  of  the  trucks  and  drive  systems  despite  selling  its  majority  stake  in  the  hydraulics 
business. 

In terms of unit sales of industrial trucks, Linde is the second largest brand worldwide and the market 
leader in Europe, while Fenwick occupies the number-one spot in France. 

Around  the  globe,  LMH  can  rely  on  a  network  of  around  700  sales  outlets  (including  Fenwick).  Its 
sales are split roughly equally between its own sales companies and external dealers. Baoli has about 
150 sales outlets.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 19 of 69 

STILL segment 

The  STILL  and  OM-STILL  brands  are  grouped  in  the  STILL  segment.  STILL  is  a  global  premium 
provider of trucks with diesel-electric drives. It focuses, above all, on the European and Latin American 
markets. In Brazil, STILL is ranked second in terms of product sales. OM-STILL is the market leader in 
Italy.  By  opening  its  own  representative  office  in  Singapore,  an  essential  prerequisite  to  creating 
further growth in Southeast Asia has also been established. 

The  segment's  portfolio  consists  of  forklift  trucks  and  warehouse  trucks  plus  associated  services. 
STILL  is  a  market  leader  throughout  Europe  in  electric  forklift  trucks  and  has  also  established 
innovative  drive  technologies  on  the  market  such  as  hybrid  drive  in  particular.  STILL  has  also 
positioned  itself  as  a  leading  provider  of  intelligent  intralogistics  solutions.  In  this  manner,  STILL 
realizes the intelligent interplay of forklift trucks, warehousing technology and towing tractors, as well 
as  process-oriented,  value-added  services  concerning  internal  operations  logistics  processes, 
shelving systems and fleet management and services. 

The STILL segment operates around 240 sales outlets in its markets, most of which it owns itself. 

Financial Services (FS) segment 

In view of the increased importance of financial services, KION laid the foundations for combining its 
activities in the FS segment in 2011 and completed the new segmentation in the  year under review. 
Legally  independent  FS  companies  were  set  up  in  the  main  sales  markets  with  a  high  volume  of 
financing and  leasing (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) so that financing  and 
leasing business can be managed separately.  

The purpose of the FS segment is to act as an internal funding partner for the LMH and STILL brand 
segments, providing finance solutions that promote sales. FS activities include the internal financing of 
the short-term rental fleet on the one hand, and the financing of long-term leasing business for KION 
Group customers on the other hand, as well as the accompanying risk management.  

The key performance indicator for the FS segment is earnings before taxes (EBT). 

When  long-term  leasing  business  is  being  conducted,  FS  itself  acts  as  the  contractual  partner  to 
customers  and  offers  financing.  Various  financing  models  are  available  and  give  customers  the 
greatest possible flexibility. In long-term business, FS is also responsible for risk management, which 
includes  credit  risk  management  as  well  as  management  of  residual-value  risk.  Leases  have  an 
average term of four to five years.  

In  short-term  leasing,  FS  is  the  internal  financing  partner  of  the  brand  segments:  customers  are 
offered  rental  trucks  from  a  brand  segment  rental  pool  for  short-term  use.  Financial  performance 
largely  depends  on  the  rental  fleet's  capacity  utilisation,  which  is  controlled  by  the  brand  segments. 
Operational responsibility for the short-term rental business lies with the brand segments. FS acts as 
the  contractual  partner  to  the  brand  segments,  providing  the  financing  primarily  in  conjunction  with 
external financial partners. The brand segments pay FS for its work in the form of an interest margin at 
a rate appropriate to the market. 

FS works on refinancing with over 40 financing partners worldwide. Leasing is largely refinanced via 
sale and leaseback agreements, whilst the refinancing of single-step leases via financial liabilities still 
plays a subordinate role. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 20 of 69 

Chart 5: Business model of Financial Services 

End customer
long-term 
leasing

Financing of long-
term leasing
(external)

Financing
(single steps)

Financial debt

Financial 
Services

LMH / STILL 
short-term 
rental

Financing of short-
term rental fleet
(internal)

Financing
(SALB leases)

Leasing 
partner

In  addition  to  KION’s  direct  leasing  to  end  clients  via  FS,  lease  financing  is  also  procured  through 
independent  leasing  providers.  In  such  cases,  the  lessor  is  not  KION,  but  rather  an  external  leasing 
company.  

Other segment 

The  Other  segment  primarily  comprises  KION  GROUP  GmbH  with  its  holding  activities,  the  KION 
Group's  service  companies,  which  provide  cross-segment  services.  These  include,  in  particular,  IT 
services from KION Information Management Services GmbH and logistics services. 

The subsidiaries of the Voltas MH brand company, which manufacture and sell counterbalance trucks 
and warehouse technology for the Indian market, also belong to this segment. 

Value-based management 

The  KION  Group's  strategy,  which  centres  on  value  and  growth,  is  reflected  in  how  the  Company  is 
managed.  KION  uses  six  key  performance  indicators  (KPIs)  to  continuously  monitor  the  market 
success,  profitability,  financial  strength  and  liquidity  of  both  the  Group  and  the  individual  segments. 
The performance targets of the Group and the segments are based on selected financial KPIs, as is 
the  performance-based  remuneration  paid  to  managers  (see  note  43  on  page  84).  Each  month,  the 
KPIs  are  measured  and  made  available  to  the  Executive  Board  as  part  of  a  comprehensive  report. 
This enables the management team to take prompt corrective action in the event of discrepancies.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 21 of 69 

Table 3 

Key performance indicators

Order intake

Revenue

Adjusted 
EBIT¹

Adjusted 
EBITDA¹

Net financial 
debt

Free cashflow

in € million

2012
2011
2010

4,700
4,682
3,860

4,727
4,368
3,534

438
365
139

747
665
462

1,790
2,631
2,626

518
234
76

¹ Adjusted for KION acquisition items and one-off items

KPIs related to business volume 

Order  intake  and  revenue  are  broken  down  by  region,  segment  and  product  group  in  the  KION 
Group's management reporting so that growth drivers and pertinent revenue trends can be identified 
and  analysed  in  a  timely  fashion.  Order  intake  is  a  leading  indicator  for  revenue. The  length  of  time 
between receipt and invoicing of an order varies between business units and product groups. 

KPIs related to earnings 

Adjusted  EBIT:  The  key  figure  used  for  the  operational  management  and  analysis  of  financial 
performance is adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). It is calculated in the same way as 
EBIT, except that it does not take account of the KION purchase price allocation (see note 18, page 
34)  or  any  non-recurring  items. Adjusted  EBIT  corresponds  to  the  KPI  used  in  internal  management 
reporting  called  EBIT.  Another  important  indicator  used  to  measure  the  KION  Group's  operational 
efficiency is the adjusted EBIT margin, which is the ratio of adjusted EBIT to revenue.  

Adjusted  EBITDA:  Unlike  EBIT,  the  EBITDA  figure  is  shown  before  deduction  of  depreciation, 
amortisation, impairments and reversals to non-current assets. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes effects 
from  the  KION  purchase  price  allocation  (see  note  18,  page  33)  and  non-recurring  items. Adjusted 
EBITDA constitutes an approximation of the cash flow KPI and provides information on the Company's 
long-term financial performance. 

KPIs related to liquidity 

Net financial debt: Net financial debt is defined as the difference between the financial liabilities and 
cash and cash equivalents shown on the balance sheet. It serves as a measure of performance and is 
only used at Group level. 

Free  cash  flow:  Free  cash  flow  is  another  relevant  KPI  for  managing  leverage  and  liquidity.  It  is 
determined  solely  by  the  KION  Group's  operating  and  investing  activities.  Free  cash  flow  does  not 
include  interest  arising  from  financing  activities.  The  performance  measurement  of  free  cash  flow  is 
supported by the carefully targeted management of working capital and by detailed planning of capital 
expenditure.  

KION  also  analyses  non-financial  key  performance  indicators.  These  essentially  relate  to 
customers, employees, sustainability and technology. Some of them are used operationally as leading 
indicators for the financial KPIs. The non-financial KPIs are described in detail on pages 46 to 56. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 22 of 69 

ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 

Macroeconomic conditions 

Global economic growth slowed down in 2012. One of the reasons for this was that the euro zone – 
still  going  through  a  sovereign  debt  crisis  –  slid  into  recession,  taking  major  trading  partners  with  it. 
The  markets  were  also  weighed  down  by  uncertainty  regarding  fiscal  problems  in  the  United  States 
and China's economic prospects. According to a projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 
global  economic  output  only  increased  by  3.2  per  cent,  compared  to  3.9  per  cent  in  2011,  whilst 
advanced industrial nations achieved growth of just 1.3 per cent (2011: 1.6 per cent).  

The pace of growth  also tailed off in the  emerging markets. All four BRIC countries registered  lower 
rates  of  growth  than  in  2011  owing  to  declining  demand  from  Europe  and,  in  particular,  dwindling 
domestic demand and economic policy aimed at stemming inflation in Asia and Latin America.  

Chart 6: Economic growth in relevant markets 

Gross domestic product 2012
Real change compared with the previous year

China

India

Russia

World

USA

Japan

Brazil

Germany

EU

7.8%

5.4%

3.4%

2.3%

2.2%

2.0%

1.0%

0.8%

-0.3%

Source: Oxford Economics (Status 12 February 2013)

Demand for machinery and equipment weakened globally, but especially in the euro zone. A declining 
willingness to invest was accompanied by a slowdown in the growth of global trade, which more than 
halved  according  to  the  IMF’s  projection.  This  brought  it  down  to  just  2.8  per  cent  in  2012  (2011: 
5.8 per cent). Imports and exports decreased in equal measure. Unlike in the previous year, demand 
for industrial trucks therefore received little stimulus from the markets in 2012.  

Sectoral conditions 

Sales markets 

The slowdown of the global economy also filtered through to the market for industrial trucks. Whereas 
unit sales of new trucks during the early months of 2012 were still influenced by the high level of order 
intake in the previous year, the subsequent months saw a fall in demand.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 23 of 69 

The number of trucks ordered globally decreased by 3.1 per cent. In western Europe – KION's largest 
market  by  far  –  the  number  of  orders  decreased  by  7.1 per  cent.  Germany,  which  remains  KION's 
largest  individual  market,  proved  somewhat  more  stable  than  Europe  as  a  whole  and  contracted  by 
5.5 per cent. The United Kingdom bucked the trend with a rise of 4.4 per cent in orders for new trucks, 
whereas France and Italy both registered sharp falls of 8.0 per cent and 21.5 per cent, respectively.  

Order  intake  in  eastern  Europe  was  stable  thanks  to  growth  in  the  Russian  market.  Decreasing  unit 
sales  in  Asia  were  primarily  the  result  of  a  decline  in  the  Chinese  market.  A  sharp  contraction  of 
business in Brazil had a significant adverse impact on unit sales in Central and South America.  

There  was  only  a  slight  shift  in  the  market  shares  of  the  individual  regions  compared  with  2011. 
Western Europe remained in first place with a share of 27 per cent of total unit sales, with as much as 
45 per cent of global orders for warehouse trucks coming from western Europe. China accounted for 
23 per cent of orders for new trucks in 2012 and was also the largest market for counterbalance trucks 
with a global market share of 33 per cent. 

Order  intake  broken  down  by  product  group  shows  that  the  market  for  warehouse  trucks  was  much 
more stable than the market as a whole, with orders decreasing by just 1.9 per cent. Within this group, 
there was a sharp rise in order intake for rider trucks. The decrease of 3.8 per cent in the number of 
orders  for  counterbalance  trucks  was  predominantly  attributable  to  declining  figures  for  combustion 
engine industrial trucks.  

Table 4 

Global Industrial Truck Market (order intake)

in thousand units 

Western Europe
    thereof
    Germany
    France
    United Kingdom
Eastern Europe
    thereof
    Russia
Europe

North America
    thereof
    U.S.A.
Central & South America
    thereof
    Brazil
China
Rest of World

World

Source: WITS/FEM

2012

2011

Changes 

259

278

-7.1%

72
51
28
54

24
312

181

165
49

19
217
187

947

76
56
27
54

23
333

170

155
55

23
238
181

977

-5.5%
-8.0%
4.4%
-1.3%

4.7%
-6.1%

6.8%

6.7%
-12.0%

-16.7%
-9.0%
3.6%

-3.1%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 24 of 69 

Procurement markets 

Commodity  prices  have  a  direct  impact  on  around  26 per  cent  of  the  cost  of  materials  for 
manufacturing  an  industrial  truck  at  KION.  Owing  to  the  gloomier  economic  data,  the  price  of  steel 
plate  was 9.6 per cent  lower on average than it had  been in 2012,  while the price of steel bars  was 
down by 12.8 per cent. The price of steel scrap, an important commodity used in counterweights, fell 
by an average of 4.7 per cent. Copper prices decreased by 2.4 per cent year on year. Like rubber (fall 
of 23.4 per cent) and plastic, copper  has a lesser  impact on manufacturing costs. The price of lead-
acid batteries, which make up a significant proportion of the total price of electric trucks, is particularly 
dependent  on  lead  prices  on  the  metal  exchanges.  However,  these  price  fluctuations  are  borne  by 
customers owing to the way in which contracts are formulated. 

Energy prices  were  higher  in 2012 than they had been the previous  year. Natural gas prices rose in 
Europe  and Asia. Although  KION's  production  facilities  predominantly  use  electricity  and  gas,  the  oil 
price  is  used  as  an  indicator  because  it  affects  other  energy  sources  as  well  as  the  price  of  plastic. 
The price of Brent crude oil (listed in US dollars) was 8.6 per cent higher on average than in 2011. 

Financial markets 

KION bills the bulk of its revenue in euros; the proportion was 63 per cent in 2012 (2011: 66 per cent). 
The  remainder  is  billed  in  foreign  currencies,  notably  the  Chinese  renminbi,  pound  sterling  and  the 
Brazilian real. The renminbi appreciated against the euro by around 10 per cent on average over the 
year. Pound sterling also increased on average over the year, whereas the Brazilian real depreciated 
significantly. Exchange-rate fluctuations had a positive, albeit insignificant, impact on KION overall.  

Table 5 

Currencies

Average rate per Euro

Australia (AUD)
Brazil (BRL)
Switzerland (CHF)
China (CNY)
United Kingdom (GBP)
Russia (RUB)
U.S.A. (USD)

Source: Reuters

2012

2011

1.24
2.51
1.21
8.11
0.81
39.92
1.29

1.35
2.33
1.23
9.00
0.87
40.89
1.39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 25 of 69 

Regulatory situation 

The  companies  in  the  KION  Group  have  to  comply  with  specific  legal  requirements  in  their  markets 
with  respect  to  their  products  and  services.  These  requirements  serve  to  minimise  or  eliminate  the 
risks  for  users  of  the  products  and  for  other  people,  equipment  and  the  immediate  working 
environment.  Moreover,  they  can  also  help  to  maintain  the  performance  of  the  machines.  The 
compliance of products and services with the different requirements has to be verified or certified.  

KION  has  established  processes  aimed  at 
legal  requirements  efficiently, 
documenting  its  compliance  with  them  and  incorporating  any  changes  in  the  legal  framework  at  an 
early  stage  of  development.  Many  of  the  legal  requirements  are  enshrined  in  product-specific  and 
other standards (e.g.  EN, ISO and DIN).  KION endeavours to comfortably comply  with the minimum 
standards defined for its products and services and, in some cases, surpass them.  

implementing 

the 

KION responds to updates to the standards promptly. For example, as a result of the tighter emissions 
standards  for  forklift  trucks  fitted  with  an  internal  combustion  engine,  KION  revised  a  number  of 
product series last year so that they now comfortably meet the new requirements and their emissions 
are  well  below  the  maximum  levels  permitted  (see  page  51).  This  allows  KION  to  differentiate  itself 
from  the  competition  and  position  itself  as  a  technology  leader.  In  addition,  the  KION  Group  is  an 
active member of associations such as the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) and its working 
groups in which it helps to continually enhance standards and regulations.  

The construction and operation of production facilities are also subject to certain legal requirements, 
including in relation to avoidance of air pollution, noise reduction, waste production & disposal and 
health & safety. The KION Group has also established stable processes in this regard to ensure that it 
complies with the regulatory requirements. KION also fulfils all of the legal requirements pertaining to 
exports and financing business. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 26 of 69 

FINANCIAL POSITION AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 

Overall assessment of the economic situation 

The  KION  Group  can  look  back  on  a  successful  financial  year  2012.  Despite  the  slight  market 
downturn,  the  Group  increased  its  market  share  in  all  of  its  major  sales  regions  and  expanded  its 
service business. KION therefore proved that its business model is stable, even in a difficult economic 
climate. The targeted increase in revenue  was exceeded,  with revenue rising by 8.2 per cent on the 
back of higher volumes and price increases. About half of the growth in revenue was generated by the 
emerging  markets,  which  are  KION's  strategic  focus  region  –  although  the  volume  of  business 
generated  by  the  mature  markets  also  surpassed  the  prior-year  figure.  In  western  Europe,  KION 
consolidated its premium position and gained market share owing to the close cooperation between its 
new truck business and service business. 

The target of achieving a year-on-year increase for the adjusted EBIT margin was also achieved. The 
increase from 8.3 per cent in 2011 to 9.3 per cent in 2012 can be attributed, above all, to the extensive 
restructuring and consolidation programme, which was largely completed in the year under review. As 
planned, capacity utilisation in the plants was higher than in 2011. The more flexible cost structure now 
in place gives KION a significant competitive edge. 

The net income generated of €161 million was very e ncouraging and exceeded the anticipated figure. 
It was partly boosted by a net gain from the transactions conducted with Weichai Power, but also by 
an  improvement  in  the  financial  result  resulting  from  the  success  of  the  steps  taken  to  reduce  debt 
levels. 

KION invested in  its continued growth in the reporting  year.  Spending on research and development 
equated to 2.5 per cent of revenue, which was once again higher than the industry average. Moreover, 
KION  expanded  its  production  capacity  in  China  and  Brazil  in  line  with  its  strategic  objective  of 
increasing the volume of production in emerging markets. 

The  considerable  improvement  to  the  financial  position  resulting  from  a  capital  increase,  the 
conversion of a shareholder loan into equity and the extension of the terms of the loans all give KION 
greater  flexibility  with  which  to  generate  profitable  growth  in  future.  Besides  optimising  its  funding 
structure, the Group also improved its liquidity position. Another contributing factor was the increase in 
free  cash  flow  on  the  back  of  the  sale  of  significant  portions  of  the  hydraulics  business,  strong 
earnings performance, and efficient management of working capital.  

Business situation and financial performance of the KION Group 

Key influencing factors 

Faltering  growth  in  the  economy  and  global  trade  impacted  on  the  market  for  industrial  trucks  in 
KION's  major  sales  regions.  Against  a  backdrop  of  economic  uncertainty,  customers  acted 
increasingly  cautiously  and,  overall,  placed  fewer  orders  for  new  trucks  than  in  2011. The  decline  in 
volume was offset by price increases that resulted, among other reasons, from the higher proportion of 
trucks  with  customer-specific  fittings.  Postponement  of  necessary  replacement  investments  in 
previous years, combined with the high degree of capacity utilisation by customers, also led to greater 
demand for maintenance services.  

Exchange-rate differences – in particular the appreciation of the renminbi and pound sterling against 
the  euro  –  only  had  a  minor  impact  on  KION's  financial  performance.  Commodity  prices,  which 
declined on average over the year, had a slightly positive effect on the cost of sales. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 27 of 69 

Order intake 

Despite the more subdued market conditions, the KION Group continued along its growth trajectory in 
2012  and  consolidated  its  market  position  as  the  second  largest  provider  worldwide  and  as  number 
one in the European market. 

Bucking  the  negative  market  trend,  the  number  of  new  industrial  trucks  ordered  remained  relatively 
stable.  In  western  Europe,  LMH  and  STILL  benefited  from  their  premium  position  and  strong  sales 
network. The  KION  companies  in  Italy  and  France  both  performed  better  than  the  declining  market, 
while in the UK, KION even surpassed market growth. In Germany, KION's unit sales declined largely 
in line with the market trend. 

KION outperformed the largely flat market in eastern Europe and registered a year-on-year increase in 
unit sales in  the emerging  Russian market. Unit sales rose  in the Asia-Pacific region too,  with  KION 
gaining market share in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Australia. In Central and South America, KION 
significantly expanded  its  market share. Moreover,  it  was able to maintain the number of new trucks 
ordered at a high level in its largest individual market, Brazil, despite the decline in demand there. 

the level of the previous year (2011: €4,682 millio n). 
At €4,700 million, order intake was slightly above 
With  unit  sales  of  new  trucks  declining  slightly,  this  small  increase  was  due,  above  all,  to  a  higher 
proportion  of  trucks  with  bespoke  fittings  and  a  different  product  mix.  Price  rises  on  the  back  of  the 
implementation of new environmental and safety standards also had an impact, as did exchange rate 
differences. As the year progressed, the economic situation dampened the market for new trucks. 

Table 6 

Order intake broken down by segment

in € million

LMH
STILL
Financial Services
Other & consolidation/reconciliation

Total

2012

2011

Change

2,978
1,577
509
-364 

4,700

3,107
1,752
− 
-178 

4,682

-4.2%
-10.0%
-
<-100%

0.4%

Measured in terms of the number of new trucks ordered, KION saw a moderate increase in its global 
market share, which expanded from 14.8 per cent in 2011 to 15.0 per cent in 2012. The Group's share 
of  the  market  for  counterbalance  trucks  was  11.6 per  cent  and  for  warehouse  trucks  20.5 per  cent. 
Slightly  higher  percentages  were  registered  for  global  market  share  measured  in  terms  of  value 
because the KION companies have a particularly strong presence in the premium price segment.  

The order book for new trucks totalled a high level of €808 million.  

Revenue 

Consolidated  revenue  increased  at  a  markedly  higher  rate  than  order  intake,  advancing  by  8.2 per 
cent year on year to €4,727 million (2011: €4,368 m illion). Both the sale of new trucks and the service 
business contributed to this rise. KION also benefited from the high degree of capacity utilisation of the 
industrial trucks in use in its key markets, which had a positive impact on the volume of replacement 
investments and on demand for service.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 28 of 69 

Table 7 

Revenue broken down by segment

in € million

LMH
STILL
Financial Services
Other
Consolidation/reconciliation

Total revenue

Revenue by product category 

2012

2011

Change

3,132
1,677
509
251
-842 

4,727

2,854
1,667
480
223
-855 

4,368

9.8%
0.6%
6.2%
12.4%
1.5%

8.2%

Revenue from new trucks went up by 12.1 per cent to €2,651 million (2011: €2,364 million), one of the 
main  reasons  being  the  strong  order  book  from  2011.  Targets  were  exceeded  both  in  the  LMH 
segment  and  the  STILL  segment.  A  significant  factor  here  was  the  substantial  demand  for  electric 
forklift  trucks  and  warehouse  trucks,  which  was  fulfilled  by  increasing  the  utilisation  of  production 
capacities.  

Table 8 

Revenue by product category

in € million

New business
Hydraulics
Service offering
  - After sales
  - Rental business
  - Used trucks
  - Other

Total revenue

2012

2011

Change

2,651
168
1,907
1,150
428
213
117

4,727

2,364
173
1,831
1,066
441
219
106

4,368

12.1%
-2.8%
4.1%
7.9%
-3.1%
-2.7%
10.8%

8.2%

Service  business  contributed  €1,907  million  (2011: 
thereby  accounted  for  40.4 per  cent  of  revenue  (2011:  41.9 per  cent).  The  growing  number  of  truck 
fleets  covered  by  service  agreements  and  the  high  level  of  truck  utilisation  pushed  up  demand  for 
maintenance  services.  Muted  demand  from  southern  Europe  decreased  revenue  to  a  moderate 
degree. Both short-term and long-term truck rentals declined slightly compared with the previous year. 
Revenue from the sale of used trucks was also slightly lower than it had been in 2011. Among other 
reasons, this was because demand from southern and eastern Europe was lower than anticipated.  

€1,831  million)  to  consolidated  revenue  and 

KION  sold  the  majority  of  its  hydraulics  business  on  27  December  2012.  The  amount  of  revenue 
contributed  by  the  hydraulics  business  amounted  to  €168  million  in  2012  –  a  marginal  change 
compared to the previous year (2011: €173 million).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 29 of 69 

Revenue by region 

KION's  revenue  went  up  in  all  of  its  sales  regions,  with  revenue  growth  exceeding  market  growth  in 
many  countries.  Around  half  of  the  €358  million  inc rease  in  revenue  was  attributable  to  emerging 
markets in Asia, South America and eastern Europe. 

Germany  and  its  neighbouring  western  European  countries  also  accounted  for  a  considerable 
proportion  (44 per  cent)  of  the  absolute  rise  in  consolidated  revenue.  Here  the  KION  companies 
benefited  from  a  higher  proportion  of  trucks  with  customer-specific  fittings  and  the  intrinsic  link 
between new truck business and service business. Expansion of the sales network, which continued 
in countries such as the United Kingdom in 2012, also helped to improve KION's market position. 

The above-average rise in revenue from eastern Europe was largely due to the revenue increases in 
Russia resulting, among other reasons, from an intensification of sales and service activities. Revenue 
also went up in Poland and the Czech Republic.  

Table 9 

Revenue by customer location

in € million

Germany
EU excl. Germany
Rest of Europe
America
Asia
Rest of world

Total revenue

2012

2011

Change

1,225
2,253
248
324
486
191

4,727

1,175
2,115
204
281
435
160

4,368

4.3%
6.6%
21.7%
15.5%
11.7%
19.2%

8.2%

As in 2011, KION maintained a high level of growth in Asia. The strategy pursued in this region is to 
offer specific products that are based on tried-and-tested platforms but tailored to local requirements. 
This was a significant factor in the 11.7 per cent rise in revenue compared with the previous year. For 
the  first  time,  the  Asia-Pacific  markets  generated  more  than  10 per  cent  of  consolidated  revenue, 
above  all  as  a  result  of  strong  growth  in  China,  to  which  the  local  Baoli  brand  made  a  significant 
contribution.  

In the Americas, KION achieved moderate revenue growth despite the challenging economic situation 
in South America, primarily due to the volume of new orders in the Brazilian market. It should also be 
noted that the full effects of the considerable expansion  of production capacity  during the  year  have 
not yet been felt.  

Overall, the volume of foreign revenue increased disproportionately by 9.6 per cent to €3,501 million 
(2011: €3,194 million), causing the share in Group  sales to climb from 73.1 per cent to 74.1 per cent. 
The  fast-growing  emerging markets  contributed  30 per  cent  of  consolidated  revenue,  compared  with 
22 per cent in 2011.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 30 of 69 

Earnings 

Table 10 

Condensed income statement of the KION Group

in € million

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Selling expenses
Research and development costs
Administrative expenses
Other

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)
Financial result

Earnings before taxes
Income taxes

Net income (loss)

EBIT and EBITDA 

2012

2011

Change

4,727
-3,430 

1,297
-562 
-124 
-313 
253

550
-239 

311
-150 

161

4,368
-3,256 

1,112
-521 
-120 
-283 
25

213
-272 

-59 
-34 

-93 

8.2%
-5.3%

16.6%
-8.0%
-4.1%
-10.5%
>100%

>100%
12.0%

>100%
<-100%

>100%

Earnings  before  interest  and  tax  (EBIT)  more  than  doubled  year  on  year  to  €550  million  (2011: 
llion include one-off items, sustained growth of unit 
€213 million). The reasons for this rise of €337 mi
sales  in  established  regional  markets,  and  stable  demand  from  China  and  eastern  Europe. Another 
factor in the increase in EBIT was improved capacity utilisation in the new truck business. 

The  non-recurring  items  included  in  EBIT  totalled  € 153  million  (2011:  €-115  million).  The  capital 
increase  and  the  sale  of  significant  portions  of  the  hydraulics  business  resulted  in  a  net  gain  before 
taxes  of  €212  million  after  deduction  of  consultanc y  costs  and  contractual  obligations.  In  addition  to 
the  net  gain  of  €103  million  from  the  sale  of  the  h ydraulics  business,  this  includes  a  gain  of 
€109 million from the remeasurement of the remainin g 30 per cent of shares held at fair value. There 
was  also  a  one-off  gain  of  €13  million  resulting  fr om  remeasurement  of  the  shareholding  in  Linde 
Creighton.  Non-recurring  losses  were  largely  the  result  of  follow-up  costs  in  connection  with  the 
closure  of  production  facilities  and  the  restructuring  of  the  container  handler  and  heavy  forklift  truck 
business,  including  necessary  impairment  of  assets.  These,  combined  with  consultancy  costs, 
amounted to losses of €71 million.  

The effects of the purchase price allocation in connection with the KION acquisition equated to a loss 
of €41 million in 2012, compared to the loss report ed in 2011 of €36 million. They essentially consist  of 
depreciation and impairment, as well as administrative expenses for KION Holding 1 GmbH. 

Adjusted  EBIT,  which  excludes  non-recurring  items  and  KION  acquisition  items,  advanced  by 
€74 million  to  €438  million  (2011:  €365  million).  T
his  equates  to  an  adjusted  EBIT  margin  of 
9.3 per cent (2011: 8.3 per cent).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 31 of 69 

Table 11 

Adjusted EBIT

in € million

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)
  One-off items
  KION acquisition items

Adjusted EBIT¹

¹ Adjusted for KION acquisition items and one-off items

2012

2011

Change

550
-153 
41

438

213
115
36

365

>100%
<-100%
15.3%

20.2%

EBITDA  grew  from  €569  million  in  2011  to  €915  milli on  in  2012,  while  adjusted  EBITDA  rose  by 
€82 million  year  on  year  to  €747  million.  According ly,  the  adjusted  EBITDA  margin  improved  from 
15.2 per cent to 15.8 per cent. 

Financial result 

The financial result – financial income offset against financial expense – improved from €-272 million  
in 2011 to €-239 million in 2012. Interest expenses  arising from loan liabilities fell significantly owing to 
a  change  in  interest  rates.  By  contrast,  interest  expenses  arising  from  capital  market  liabilities  were 
higher than in 2011 because the bond had only existed for eight months of that year. The balance of 
finance costs arising from translation differences increased €33 million year on year. The reasons for  
this  include  other  income  from  the  translation  of  loans  denominated  in  US  dollars,  which  were 
contrasted by an expense in the previous year.  

Table 12 

Financial result

in € million

Financial income
Financial expense

Financial result

Income taxes 

2012

2011

Change

62
-302 

-239 

74
-346 

-272 

-15.7%
12.8%

12.0%

Income taxes amounted to an expense of €150 million  (2011: €34 million). Within this amount, current 
2  million,  largely  owing  to  the  improvement  in 
income  tax  expenses  increased  by  €73  million  to  €12
operating performance and the net tax effects of €6 2 million resulting from the sale of the hydraulics 
business. As  in  the  previous  year,  additional  deferred  tax  assets  were  not  recognised  because  it  is 
unlikely that the corresponding benefit can be utilised. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 32 of 69 

Net income (loss) 

Following the net loss of €93 million reported for  2011, KION generated net income of €161 million in 
the  year  under  review.  This  difference  of  €254  mill
ion  largely  resulted  from  an  increase  in  adjusted 
EBIT and a net gain from the sale of the hydraulics business. These positive effects were partly offset 
by the rise in income taxes. 

Key influencing factors for earnings 

The  disproportionately  low  rise  in  the  cost  of  sales,  which  went  up  by  5.3 per  cent  to  €3,430  million 
(2011:  €3,256  million),  was  the  result  of  more  effi cient  production  operations,  greater  capacity 
utilisation and an overall fall in commodity prices. Compared with revenue, selling expenses remained 
virtually unchanged. Research and development costs advanced by 4.1 per cent to €124 million (2011: 
€120  million)  on  the  back  of  larger-scale  projects 
particular in preliminary development and series development.  

that  made  it  necessary  to  increase  headcount,  in 

Higher  consultancy  costs  for  strategic  projects  primarily  contributed  to  the  10.5 per  cent  increase  in 
administrative expenses, which totalled €313 millio n.  

Table 13 

Other income and expenses

in € million

Other income
Other expenses

Other income and expenses

2012

2011

Change

294
-60 

235

82
-70 

11

>100%
15.0%

>100%

The balance of other expenses and income (see notes 10 and 11, pages 23 and 24) was €235 million 
(2011: €11 million). Other income of €294 million (
2011: €82 million) was mainly attributable to one-o ff 
income  generated  from  the  sale  of  the  hydraulics  business.  The  decline  in  other  expenses  to 
€60 million  (2011:  €70  million)  primarily  resulted 
from  the  decrease  in  impairment  losses  on  non-
current assets and the decrease in book losses from the sale of non-current assets. 

Table 14 

EBIT by segment adjusted¹

in € million

LMH
STILL
Financial Services
Other & consolidation/reconciliation

Total

¹ Adjusted for KION acquisition items and one-off items

2012

2011

Change

330
123
1
-16 

438

279
100
3
-18 

365

18.3%
22.5%
-48.1%
8.1%

20.2%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 33 of 69 

Table 15 

EBIT by segment

in € million

LMH
STILL
Financial Services
Other & consolidation/reconciliation

Total

2012

2011

Change

523
98
1
-73 

550

258
-5 
3
-42 

213

>100%
>100%
-48.1%
-72.6%

>100%

Business situation and financial performance of the LMH segment 

Revenue 

The LMH segment's revenue went up by 9.8 per cent to €3,132 million in 2012 (2011: €2,854 million). 
This equates to 66.3 per cent of consolidated revenue (2011: 65.3 per cent).  

The  new  truck  business  grew  at  a  particularly  strong  rate,  rising  by  16.0 per  cent  year  on  year  and 
thereby  exceeding  the  budgeted  figure. All  product  groups  contributed  to  this  increase,  with  electric 
forklift trucks proving to be the main growth driver. The number of trucks ordered of this type rose by 
2.3 per cent, thereby bucking the global market trend. Strong growth in Asia and the Americas resulted 
in  a  rise  of  3.4  per  cent  for  diesel  trucks  despite  the  market's  overall  weakness,  while  warehouse 
technology also outperformed the market with a decline of just 0.5 per cent. 

Service revenue rose on the back of maintenance carried out in response to individual orders as well 
as under service agreements. LMH's rental business performed better than in 2011 owing to growth in 
short-term  rentals.  Sales  of  used  trucks  generated  less  revenue  than  in  the  previous  year,  although 
the prior-year figure had been boosted by a significant one-off transaction. 

LMH saw particularly strong revenue growth in Germany and the United Kingdom. Revenue was also 
up  in  Russia  and  other  eastern  European  countries  thanks  to more  intensive  marketing  activities.  In 
China, the Linde and Baoli brands bucked the negative market trend and increased their revenue. In 
fact, revenue in Asia as a whole increased from what had already been a high level the previous year. 

Earnings 

EBIT more than doubled, from €258 million in 2011 t o €523 million in 2012. The crucial factor here was  
a one-off gain – the sale of the majority stake of the hydraulics business – which totalled €247 milli on 
in the LMH segment. EBIT also included an additional one-off gain amounting to €13 million, resulting 
from the remeasurement made in connection with the acquisition of the remaining 51 per cent of the 
shares in Linde Creighton. A gain of €3 million gen erated by the sale of the plot of land in Basingstoke, 
United Kingdom, was largely offset by follow-up costs caused by the closure of the plant there. Total 
one-off and non-recurring items amounted to a gain of €226 million. One-off items had amounted to an 
expense of €5 million in 2011. The KION acquisition  items attributable to the LMH segment amounted 
to an expense of €33 million in 2012, compared with  an expense of €26 million in 2011. Adjusted EBIT 
increased  by  €51  million  to  €330  million  (2011:  €27
9  million). Apart  from  the  growth  in  earnings,  the 
reason for this rise was the programme of measures designed to cut costs and boost efficiency. As a 
result, the adjusted EBIT margin improved from 9.8 per cent in 2011 to 10.5 per cent in 2012. Adjusted 
EBITDA in the LMH segment came to €478 million (201 1: €423 million), corresponding to an adjusted 
EBITDA margin of 15.3 per cent (2011: 14.8 per cent). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 34 of 69 

Business situation and financial performance of the STILL segment 

Revenue 

The  STILL  segment's  revenue  increased  slightly  by  0.6 per  cent  to  €1,677  million  (2011: 
€1,667 million). The reduction in revenue in wester n Europe was offset by substantial growth in central 
and eastern Europe and Asia, where significant new orders were secured. STILL’s market presence in 
eastern  Europe  has  been  strengthened  even  further  by  integrating  of  the  STILL  and  OM  dealers  in 
Russia. In Yekaterinburg in the Ural region, STILL has already founded its third branch in Russia after 
Moscow  and  Saint  Petersburg.  In  Poland,  STILL’s  service  and  distribution  structure  has  been 
expanded via a new branch in Gdansk. 

Also going significantly against the market trend, STILL generated revenue growth in South America, 
where the core market is Brazil. STILL took a further step towards becoming market leader there by 
relocating  and  expanding  production  (see  page  17)  and  launching  the  production  of  diesel  trucks. 
Revenue  rose  slightly  in  Asia,  where  STILL  expanded  its  footprint  by  opening  a  new  office  in 
Singapore.  In  Italy,  integration  of  OM  into  the  STILL  Group  was  completed,  helping  to  consolidate 
STILL's market leadership.  

Overall, revenue from new trucks was moderately lower than in 2011 despite the increase in revenue 
from  diesel  trucks.  The  relocation  of  production  led  to  a  decrease  in  the  numbers  of  units 
manufactured during the transition period. This one-off effect was in line with expectations. 

The small decrease in the  new truck business  was more than  offset by  higher revenue from service 
activities, with especially strong gains in revenue from short-term rental business. 

Earnings 

EBIT  in  the  STILL  segment  stood  at  €98  million  in  t he  year  under  review.  This  very  substantial 
increase of €103 million was the result of the incr ease in sales, cost savings, and the use of efficiency 
gains. The EBIT figure reported for 2011,  which had  amounted to a net loss of €5 million, had been 
negatively affected by expenses in connection with the consolidation of production facilities in Europe 
and  closure  of  the  plants  in  Montataire  and  Bari,  including  provisions  for  the  related  severance 
payments. Accordingly,  non-recurring  items  produced  an  expense  of  €97  million  in  2011,  compared 
with a net expense of just €17 million in 2012. 

The KION acquisition items attributable to the STILL segment amounted to an expense of €7 million in 
2012, compared with an expense of €8 million in 201 1. Adjusted EBIT climbed to €123 million (2011: 
€100 million). This caused the adjusted EBIT margin  to rise from 6.0 per cent in 2011 to 7.3 per cent in 
2012.  Adjusted  EBITDA  improved  to  €218  million  (201 1:  €191  million),  while  the  adjusted  EBITDA 
margin climbed from 11.5 per cent to 13.0 per cent. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 35 of 69 

Business  situation  and  financial  performance  of  the  Financial  Services  (FS) 
segment 

Business situation 

Revenue  generated  by  the  Financial  Services  segment  increased  from  €480  million  to  €509  million 
and  includes  intra-group  revenue  with  the  LMH  and  STILL  segments.  The  revenue  that  the  FS 
segment generated outside the Group rose by 12.0 per cent to €297 million (2011: €265 million).  

The  volume  (residual  value)  of  leasing  in  the  FS  segment  amounted  to  €997  million  as  at 
31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: €906 million).  Of this total, 45 per cent was attributable to FS 
companies. The volume, which was refinanced via sale and leaseback agreements, amounts to 80 per 
cent of the total value. The refinancing of the remaining 20 per cent takes place via Group treasury as 
part  of  KION’s  financial  liabilities.  If  one  includes  the  indirect  leasing  business,  which  is  handled  via 
external  lease  providers  and  is  not  a  part  of  the  FS  segment,  73  per  cent  of  the  leasing  business 
concentrates on the core European markets of Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Spain.  

Financial performance 

The FS segment registered earnings before taxes (EBT) of €5 million in 2012 (2011: €6 million). The 
adjusted EBT margin,  expressed as  a  percentage of  total revenue, decreased from 1.28 per cent to 
0.94 per cent.  

Business situation and financial performance of the Other segment 

Business situation 

Total revenue in the Other segment rose significantly year on year to €251 million (2011: €223 million ). 
As in 2011, the main revenue drivers were internal IT and logistics services. Revenue generated from 
external  companies  amounted  to  €43  million  (2011:  € 40  million),  most  of  which  was  contributed  by 
Voltas MH, which had only been consolidated for nine months in 2011. Voltas MH benefited from the 
increased  production  capacity  at  the  plant  built  in  Pune  in  2011  and  from  the  further  strengthened 
sales and service network.  

Financial performance 

EBIT in the Other segment decreased to €-12 million  (2011: €43 million), while adjusted EBIT fell from  
n  part  to  decreased  investment  income.  The 
€68  million  in  2011  to  €44  million  in  2012,  owing  i
markedly positive result of the Other segment includes significant investment income from subsidiaries 
that were eliminated at Group level. Operationally, Voltas MH in particular made a positive contribution 
to segment earnings. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 36 of 69 

Financial position 

Principles and objectives of financial management 

By  pursuing  an  appropriate  financial  management  strategy,  KION  GROUP  GmbH  ensures  that 
sufficient  cash  and  cash  equivalents  are  available  at  all  times  to  meet  the  Group  companies' 
operational  and  strategic  funding  requirements.  In  addition,  KION  GROUP  GmbH  optimises  its 
financial  relationships  with  customers  and  suppliers,  manages  any  collateral  security  offered  and 
mitigates  the  financial  risk  to  its  enterprise  value  and  profitability,  notably  currency  risk,  interest-rate 
risk, price risk, counterparty risk and country risk.  

A  syndicated  credit  facility  with  a  group  of  international  banks  and  investors  meets  KION's  basic 
borrowing  requirements.  In  addition,  KION  avails  itself  of  the  funding  facilities  offered  by  the  public 
capital markets, having issued a corporate bond of 2011.  

The  financial  resources  within  the  Group  are  provided  based  on  an  internal  funding  approach. 
According  to  this  approach,  KION  collects  liquidity  surpluses  of  the  Group  companies  in  central  or 
regional cash pools and, where possible, covers subsidiaries' funding requirements with intercompany 
loans. This central source of funding enables KION to present a united front in the capital markets and 
strengthens its hand in negotiations with banks and other market participants. 

The Group occasionally arranges additional credit lines for KION Group companies with local banks or 
leasing companies in order to comply with legal, tax and other regulations. 

For funding purposes, KION also engages to a small extent in factoring. The volume of non-recourse 
factoring business amounted to €20 million at the e nd of 2012 (31 December 2011: €18 million); the 
Company  only  uses  recourse  factoring  in  isolated  cases.  The  KION  Group  maintains  a  liquidity 
reserve  in  the  form  of  unrestricted,  bindingly  committed  credit  lines  and  cash  in  order  to  ensure 
financial flexibility and solvency. 

The senior facility agreement (SFA), which is the main loan agreement, and the contractual terms and 
conditions governing the issuance of the corporate bond require, among other things, compliance with 
covenants. The SFA also requires compliance with specific financial covenants during the term of the 
agreement.  The  financial  covenants  specify  required  ratios  for  the  financial  position  and  financial 
performance  of  the  KION  Group.  If  undertakings  or  financial  covenants  are  breached,  this  may,  for 
example, give lenders the right to terminate the SFA or permit bondholders to call the corporate bond 
prior to its maturity date. All the financial covenants were complied with in the past financial year. 

KION only uses derivatives to hedge underlying operational transactions; in particular, they comprise 
currency  forwards  and  interest-rate  swaps  and  are  used  for  hedging  purposes  to  mitigate  currency 
and  interest-rate  risks.  In  the  year  under  review  only  cash  flow  hedges  were  used  for  currency  and 
interest-rate risks.  

Main financing activities in 2012 

KION's financial position improved substantially in 2012 owing to a number of measures put in place. 
The steps taken to reduce debt levels will have a positive impact on financial result in future years.  

The shareholder loan from Superlift Holding S.à r.l., which had a principal amount of €500 million plu s 
accrued interest of €171 million, was converted int o equity on 27 December 2012. On the same date, 
a  contribution  of  €467  million  (including  premium)  was  paid  by  Weichai  Power  for  the  takeover  of 
25 per cent of the share capital  of KION Holding 1 GmbH (see note 28, page 41). These two steps, 
less credit procurement costs, increased the KION Group's equity by €1,133 million, which had been 
negative as at 31 December 2011. Another positive impact came from Weichai Power's acquisition of 
70 per cent of the shares in Linde Hydraulics. This resulted in earnings of €212 million before taxes,  

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 37 of 69 

which,  together  with  the  favourable  operating  result,  boosted  net  income  in  2012  and  thereby  also 
helped to increase equity.  

Conversion  of  the  shareholder  loan  improved  the  borrowing  situation.  Furthermore,  KION  GROUP 
GmbH successfully negotiated with its creditors to extend the maturities of existing loan facilities with a 
volume  of  more  than  €1  billion  (see  note  30  on  page   53).  This  also  creates  greater  flexibility  with 
regard to paying back senior facilities agreements (SFAs). The maturity of the existing revolving credit 
line was also extended from December 2013 to December 2016. Additional commercial and technical 
changes  included  a  moderate  increase  in  the  funds  available  for  acquisitions  (acquisition  basket). 
Shareholder loan G, which has a volume of €114 mill
ion, was extended from December 2016 to June 
2018. By  issuing a new corporate bond at the beginning of the new financial  year, KION achieved  a 
further extension on its debt maturity profile (see ‘Events after the balance sheet date’, page 57).  

Analysis of capital structure 

Table 16 

Condensed balance sheet, equity and liabilities

in € million

Equity

Non-current liabilities
thereof:
  Shareholder loan
  Corporate bond
  Financial liabilities
  Deferred tax liabilities
  Lease liabilities

Current liabilities
thereof:
  Financial liabilities
  Trade payables
  Lease liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

Financial debt 

2012

in %

2011

in %

Change

660

3,929

− 
489
1,811
309
329

10.6%

63.2%

0.0%
7.9%
29.2%
5.0%
5.3%

-488 

4,842

643
488
2,290
339
300

-8.0%

79.8%

10.6%
8.0%
37.7%
5.6%
4.9%

1,624

26.1%

1,711

28.2%

52
646
146

6,213

0.8%
10.4%

2.3%

227
634
147

6,066

3.7%
10.5%

2.4%

>100%

-18.9%

-100.0%
0.4%
-20.9%
-8.9%
9.7%

-5.1%

-77.2%
1.9%
-0.6%

2.4%

KION's total financial liabilities – including the bond issued in 2011 – amounted to €2,352 million as  at 
31  December  2012,  down  by  €652  million  compared  wit h  the  same  date  a  year  earlier.  The  crucial 
factor  here  was  the  reduction  of  financial  liabilities  resulting  from  cash  inflows  from  the  Weichai 
transaction of €471 million, the repayment of a dra wdown of €138 million taken on the revolving credit  
facility in November 2011, as well as the repayment of the multicurrency capex facility in the amount of 
€56 million and a decrease in the financial liabili ties of local Group companies. This was counteracted 
by the increase in accrued and unpaid interest (payment in kind, PIK). 

As  at  31  December  2012,  the  equity  and  liabilities  side  of  the  consolidated  statement  of  financial 
position continued to be significantly affected by the financial liabilities incurred through KION Group's 
acquisition financing (SFA). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 38 of 69 

Non-current financial liabilities stood at €2,301 m illion as at 31 December 2012  (31 December 2011: 
€2,777 million), which was primarily due to cash in flows resulting from the Weichai transaction of €47 1 
million,  and  currency  fluctuations. Also  included  were  capital  market  liabilities  of  €489  million. The se 
were the liabilities arising from the corporate bond issued in 2011 with a total volume of €500 millio n. 
Of this amount, €325 million carried a fixed intere st rate and €175 million a floating interest rate.  The 
carrying amount of the bond was reduced by associated borrowing costs of €11 million. 

Current  financial  liabilities,  which  came  to  €52  mi
the  remaining  multi-currency  capex  facility  (€18  mi
companies (€33 million). The year-on-year decrease  (31 December 2011: €176 million) is attributable 
to the payment of the amount of the revolving credit facility, the partial reduction of the capex facility, 
and  the  reclassification  of  €18  million  of  non-curr ent  financial  liabilities  to  current  financial  liabilities 
within the multi-currency capex facility, which were carried out in 2012. The weighted average interest 
rate on current financial liabilities arising from the multi-currency capex facility was 3.4 per cent as at 
31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: 4.4 per cent). 

llion  as  at  31 December  2012,  largely  consisted  of 
llion)  and  the  financial  liabilities  of  local  Group 

Table 17 

Credit terms 

in € million

Type

Currency

Interest rate

Maturity

2012

20 11

Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term B1 
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term B2 
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term B1 
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term B2 
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term C1 
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term C2 
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term C1 
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term C2 
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility Term D
Term Loan Facility Term G
Bank Loan
Term Loan Facility H1a (Corporate bond - fixed rate)
Term Loan Facility H1b (Corporate bond - floating rate)
Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Bank Loan
Multicurrency Capex Restructuring 
and Acquisition Facility

Bank Loan

EUR
EUR
USD
USD
EUR
EUR
USD
USD
EUR
EUR

EUR

EUR

Other liabilities to banks

Diverse

Diverse

EURIBOR + MARGIN 2014
EURIBOR + MARGIN 2017
LIBOR + MARGIN 2014
LIBOR + MARGIN 2017
EURIBOR + MARGIN 2015
EURIBOR + MARGIN 2017
LIBOR + MARGIN 2015
LIBOR + MARGIN 2017
EURIBOR + MARGIN 2012
EURIBOR + MARGIN 2018
2018
3-M-EURIBOR+MARGIN 2018
EURIBOR + MARGIN 2012

Fixed rate

EURIBOR + MARGIN 2013
Various currencies and interest 
terms

Other financial liabilities to non-banks
./. Capitalized borrowing costs

Financial debt

Net financial debt 

139
411
108
79
287
383
227
81
− 
116
325
175
− 

18

33

4
-34 

691
− 
311
− 
663
− 
311
− 
202
111
325
175
133

72

38

7
-33 

2,352

3,005

After deduction of cash and cash equivalents, the remaining net financial debt came to €1,790 million 
as  at  31  December  2012  (31 December  2011:  €2,631  mi
llion).  At  €34  million,  the  borrowing  costs 
included within this were close to the level of the previous year (31 December 2011: €33 million). The  
sharp decline in net financial debt of 32.0 per cent is due to repayments and the net cash provided by 
the contributions made as part of the resolution to carry out a capital increase. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 39 of 69 

Table 18 

Net financial debt

in € million

Corporate bond - fixed rate (2011/2018) - gross
Corporate bond - floating rate  (2011/2018) - gross
Liabilities to banks (gross)
Liabilities to non-banks (gross)
./. Capitalized borrowing costs
Financial debt
./. Cash and cash equivalents
Net financial debt

Shareholder loan 

2012

2011

Change

325
175
1,882
4
-34 
2,352
562
1,790

325
175
2,530
7
-33 
3,005
373
2,631

− 
− 
-25.6%
-38.8%
-4.5%
-21.7%
50.6%
-32.0%

The shareholder loan from Superlift Holding S.à r.l., which totalled €671 million (principal amount pl us 
accrued interest), was converted into equity in 2012 in connection with the strategic partnership with 
Weichai. This item had totalled €643 million at the  end of 2011. 

Retirement benefit obligation 

KION  supports  pension  plans  in  many  countries.  These  plans  comply  with  legal  requirements,  local 
practice  and  the  situation  in  the  country  in  question.  They  are  either  defined  benefit  pension  plans, 
defined  contribution  pension  plans,  or  multi-employer  benefit  plans.  Provisions  for  retirement  benefit 
obligations  in  connection  with  defined  benefit  pension  plans  amounted  to  €547  million  as  at 
31 December  2012.  The  net  obligation  after  deduction  of  assets  arising  from  pensions  worth  €23 
n at the end of 2011. The rise was caused by the 
million was €524 million, compared with €363 millio
marked reduction in discount rates as a result of the change in market interest rates. This effect was 
partly offset by the removal of net pension obligations of €65 million as part of the sale of signific ant 
portions of the hydraulics business.  

Contributions  to  pension  plans  that  are  funded  in  whole  or  in  part  via  a  pension  fund  are  paid  in  as 
necessary to ensure sufficient assets are available and to be able to make future pension payments to 
pension plan participants. These contributions are determined by various factors, such as the funded 
status,  legal  and  tax  considerations,  and  local  practice.  In  2012,  payments  to  pensioners  made  by 
KION under pension plans totalled €23 million, whic h can be broken down into €9 million for employer 
contributions to plan assets and €14 million for di rect pension payments.  

Further details about retirement benefit and similar obligations are provided in note 29 on pages 43 to 
45.  

Lease liabilities 

As  at  31  December  2012,  lease  liabilities  arising  from  financial  services  activities  amounted  to 
€475 million (31 December 2011: €447 million), and  were exclusively the result of sale and leaseback 
transactions  used  to  finance  leases  with  customers. Of  this  total,  €329  million  was  accounted  for  by 
non-current  lease  liabilities  (31  December  2011:  €3 00  million)  and  €146  million  by  current  lease 
liabilities  (31  December  2011:  €147  million).  The  r ise  in  non-current  lease  liabilities  is  attributable, 
above all, to new  leases, reflecting the  growing demand for this type  of financing. In addition, short-
term  rental,  indirect  leasing  and  procurement  leasing  were  assigned  to  the  brands  in  2012  in  the 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 40 of 69 

context  of  the  new  segmentation.  The  corresponding  liabilities  were  reclassified  accordingly  under 
other financial liabilities (see note 33, pages 58 and 59). Other financial liabilities also include liabilities 
arising  from  residual-value  guarantees  amounting  to  €21  million.  These  relate  to  residual-value 
guarantees,  provided  in  connection  with  the  sale  of  assets  to  leasing  companies,  where  the 
guaranteed  amount  is  more  than  10 per  cent  of  the  fair  value  of  the  asset  in  question.  The  lease 
liabilities are covered to the furthest extent possible by lease receivables, future inflows of funds from 
sub-leases with customers and revenue from the sale of used trucks. 

Equity 

The  KION  Group's  equity  rose  by  €1,148  million  year   on  year  to  €660  million  (31  December  2011: 
minus €488 million). The main contributing factor h ere was the conversion of the shareholder loan into 
equity,  as  well  as  the  contribution  made  by  Weichai  Power  for  the  acquisition  of  25  per  cent  of  the 
shares  in  KION  Holding  1  GmbH  by  way  of  a  capital  increase  (see  page  7).  The  increase  in  the 
balance of retained earnings and net income from minus €806 million to minus €648 million was due 
to the encouraging level of net income.  

Funding vehicles not reported on the statement of financial position 

KION makes limited use of funding vehicles not reported on the statement of financial position. As part 
of  its  financing  activities  KION  has,  both  for  its  own  use  and  to  be  transferred  on  to  its  customers, 
entered  into  lease  agreements  that  in  accordance  with  the  relevant  IFRS  requirements  are  not 
reported as either an asset or a liability on the statement of financial position. The nominal amount of 
the contractual obligations arising from such leases not reported on the statement of financial position 
was €194 million as at 31 December 2012 (31 Decembe r 2011: €205 million, see note 34, page 61).  

Analysis of capital expenditure 

Capital  expenditure  (excluding  leasing  and  rental  assets)  was  funded  by  cash  flow  from  operating 
activities and by withdrawals from the revolving part of the SFA in 2012. 

The total volume of investment was €155 million, wh ich represents a year-on-year rise of 16.6 per cent 
(2011:  €133  million).  The  main  reasons  for  this  ris e  were  product  developments  and  production 
modifications,  ongoing  modernisation  of  the  IT  infrastructure  and  the  construction  and  expansion  of 
production  facilities,  particularly  in  China  and  Brazil.  In  both  segments,  LMH  and  STILL,  capital 
expenditure increased. 

The bulk of capital expenditure went on the development of new counterweight trucks, electric forklift 
trucks  and  reach  trucks  (see  the  section  on  research  and  development,  pages  50  to  53)  –  partly  to 
comply  with  stricter  environmental  regulations  –  and  on  innovations  such  as  hybrid  technology. 
Operational investments predominantly related to equipment and machinery for the production of new 
industrial  trucks  and  components.  IT  investment  projects  related  to  areas  such  as  central  sales 
management.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 41 of 69 

Table 19 

Capital expenditures by segment

in € million

LMH
STILL
Financial Services
Other

Total

2012

2011

Change

89
51
0
15

155

76
43
− 
14

133

17.4%
18.1%
-
7.3%

16.6%

Current capital expenditure projects do not incur any significant subsequent financial obligations.  

Analysis of liquidity 

Liquidity management is an important aspect of central financial management. The sources of liquidity 
are cash and cash equivalents (including pledged cash deposits), cash flow from operating activities 
and  lines  of  credit  available  under  the  SFA.  Cash  and  cash  equivalents  totalled  €562  million  as  at 
31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: €373 million).  Taking into account the available multi-currency 
revolving credit facility, KION had access to cash and cash equivalents amounting to €931 million as a t 
the reporting date, compared with €499 million as a t 31 December 2011. 

Table 20 

Condensed cash flow statement

in € million

2012

2011

Change

EBIT
Cash flow from operating activities
Cash flow from investing activities

Free cash flow
Cash flow from financing activities
Currency effects on cash

Change in cash and cash equivalents

Net financial debt

550
414
104

518
-330 
1

189

213
387
-153 

234
-115 
1

121

>100%
7.0%
>100%

>100%
<-100%
-7.2%

56.7%

1,790

2,631

-32.0%

Cash flow from operating  activities increased from €387 million  in  2011  to €414 million in 2012. This 
was  due  to  the  €337 million  increase  in  EBIT,  which   had  been  influenced  to  some  extent  by  non-
recurring items (see page 30). Overall, this more than offset the decrease in cash flow caused by the 
net increase in leased and rental assets (after the deduction of writedowns). 

Cash  flow  from  investing  activities  resulted  in  the  amount  of  €104  million  (2011:  net  cash  outflow  of 
€153 million). The outflows of cash for the acquisi tion of the outstanding shares in Linde Creighton and 
for investment in plant and machinery as well as office equipment – predominantly in Brazil and China 
– were offset by net inflows of €260 million from t he sale of the hydraulics business. 

Due  to  the  influencing  factors  described,  free  cash  flow  (see  page  21)  rose  to  €518  million  (2011: 
€234 million). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 42 of 69 

Cash flow from financing activities amounted to a total net cash outflow of €330 million in 2012 (2011 : 
net cash outflow of €115 million). Repayment of the  finance facilities resulted in an outflow of cash of 
ay  the  multi-currency  revolving  credit  facility  and 
€665  million,  of  which  €138  million  was  used  to  rep
€56  million  to  repay  the  multi-currency  capex  facil
ity.  Interest  payments  amounted  to  €130  million, 
compared with €147 million in 2011. Of the moderate  cash outflow of €10 million, €8 million occurred 
in connection  with the acquisition  of the remaining shares in  Voltas MH. The inflow of cash from the 
contribution  made  as  part  of  the  resolution  to  carry  out  the  capital  increase  had  a  positive  effect  on 
cash flow. 

This  caused  cash  and  cash  equivalents  to  rise  sharply,  from  €373  million  at  the  end  of  2011  to 
€562 million at the reporting date (see page 43). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 43 of 69 

Net assets 

Table 21 

Condensed balance sheet, assets

in € million

2012

in %

2011

in %

Change

Non-current assets
thereof:
  Goodwill
  Brand names
  Deferred tax assets
  Leased assets
  Rental assets
  Lease receivables

Current assets
thereof:
  Inventories
  Trade receivables
  Lease receivables
  Cash

Total assets

Non-current assets 

4,231

68.1%

4,160

68.6%

1,473
594
265
191
395
267

23.7%
9.6%
4.3%
3.1%
6.4%
4.3%

1,538
594
262
167
357
243

25.4%
9.8%
4.3%
2.8%
5.9%
4.0%

1,982

31.9%

1,906

31.4%

550
625
132
562

6,213

8.9%
10.1%
2.1%
9.1%

625
677
118
373

6,066

10.3%
11.2%
2.0%
6.2%

1.7%

-4.2%
-0.1%
1.1%
14.3%
10.8%
10.0%

4.0%

-12.1%
-7.6%
11.6%
50.6%

2.4%

Non-current  assets  increased  by  1.7 per  cent  year  on  year  to  €4,231  million  (31  December  2011: 
€4,160 million).  

The decline in intangible assets, which had fallen by €108 million to €2,407 million as at the reporti ng 
date, was predominantly due to the reduction in goodwill as part of the sale of significant portions of 
the  hydraulics  business.  Depreciation  and  amortisation  on  technologies,  developments  and  other 
intangible assets exceeded the volume of assets capitalised during the period.  

As  at  31  December  2012  leased  assets  totalled  €191  million,  up  by  €24  million  compared  with 
31 December 2011. The increase can primarily be attributed to the greater volume of operating leases 
for  industrial  trucks,  in  which  beneficial  ownership  remains  with  KION  as  the  lessor.  KION’s  good 
operational development led to an increase in leasing assets in spite of the separation of leased and 
rental assets resulting from the new segmentation (see note 8, page 9). Rental assets also increased 
by €38 million as at 31 December 2012, to €395 mill

ion. 

Other property, plant and equipment declined by €53  million year on year to €500 million. New assets 
were  added,  above  all  in  connection  with  the  expansion  of  production  facilities  in  China  and  Brazil. 
However, these were offset by disposals resulting from the sale of the hydraulics business, impairment 
losses  recognised  in  connection  with  the  closure  of  production  facilities  as  well  as  depreciation  and 
amortisation. 

The  marked  increase  in  investments  accounted  for  using  the  equity  method,  from  €37  million  to 
€155 million  is  primarily  attributable  to  the  conso lidation  of  the  minority  shareholding  in  Linde 
Hydraulics. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 44 of 69 

The  increase  in  non-current  leasing  receivables  by  10.0  per  cent  to  €267  million  reflects  the  high 
number of additional long-term leasing agreements.  

The  increase  in  other  financial  assets  from  €26  mil
measurement of derivatives at fair value and the measurement of the put option on additional shares 
in Linde Hydraulics.  

lion  to  €50  million  was  predominantly  due  to  the 

An explanation of the change in deferred tax assets is provided in note 16 on page 27. 

Acquisition  of  the  outstanding  shares  in  Linde  Creighton  resulted  in  additions  of  €27  million  to  non-
current assets and of €19 million to current assets .  

Current assets 

Current assets had grown by €76 million to €1,982 m illion as at 31 December 2012. The main reason 
for  this  was  the  rise  in  cash  and  cash  equivalents  owing  to  the  contributions  made  as  part  of  the 
resolution  to  carry  out  a  capital  increase  in  connection  with  Weichai  Power's  investment  in  KION 
Holding 1 GmbH. 

Inventories  decreased  by  €75  million  to  €550  millio
n,  predominantly  due  to  the  deconsolidation  of 
Linde Hydraulics. Moreover, the  year-on-year increase resulting from KION’s operating activities was 
rebalanced at the end of the year under review.  

Table 22 

Inventories  

in € million

Materials and supplies
Work in progress
Finished goods and merchandise
Advances paid

Total inventories

2012

2011

Change

120
75
349
6

550

151
98
371
5

625

-20.5%
-23.8%
-5.8%
11.8%

-12.1%

Trade receivables fell by €51 million to €625 milli on as at 13 December 2012.  

Working  capital  (inventories  and  trade  receivables  less  trade  payables)  was  €529  million  as  at  the 
reporting date, €138 million less than it had been  a year earlier (31 December 2011: €668 million). 

The substantial rise in cash and cash equivalents, from €373 million at the end of 2011 to €562 millio n 
as at 31 December 2012, can be attributed to the considerable improvement to the operational cash 
lion resulting from the Weichai transactions was 
flow of the KION Group. The cash inflow of €738 mil
used  as  far  as  possible  to  repay  financial  debt,  leading  to  an  increase  in  cash  of  €73  million  (see  
page 42). 

Investor relations 

In  April  2011  KION  issued  its  first  secured  corporate  bond,  thereby  opening  up  access  to  the 
international capital markets and diversifying its investor base. With a maturity date of 2018 and a total 
in 
volume of €500 million, the bond was issued in a tr anche of €325 million at a fixed interest rate and 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 45 of 69 

a tranche of €175 million at a floating interest ra te. It is listed on the Luxembourg stock exchange. The 
coupon on the fixed-interest tranche (ISIN XS0616432224) is 7.875 per cent. The floating-rate tranche 
(ISIN  XS0616442298)  is  425  basis  points  above  the  prevailing  three-month  EURIBOR  rate,  which 
equated to an average interest rate of 5.0 per cent over the reporting period.  

Chart 7: Bond performance since issue in April 2011 

Having  been  rather  subdued  in  2011,  the  market  for  corporate  bonds  was  generally  very  popular  in 
2012.  Market  growth  also  benefited  the  performance  of  the  two  KION  tranches,  which  completely 
made  up  for  the  falls  in  price  seen  during  the  previous  year. As  a  result,  the  increase  generated  in 
2012 was sharper than that of the benchmark index, the iBoxx. This was certainly also due to KION's 
strong  operational  performance,  as  reflected  in  the  adjusted  annualised  EBIT,  which  benefited  the 
bond prices. 

Since  issuing  the  bond,  KION  has  established  relationships  based  on  transparent  communications 
with  financial  analysts  and  investors  specialising  in  high-yield  bonds  and  has  integrated  them  in  its 
regular  capital  market  communications  as  part  of  its  investor  relations  activities.  Another  important 
aspect  of  this  work  was  the  cooperation  with  the  rating  agencies  Standard  &  Poor’s  (S&P)  and 
Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s), which have rated KION since the bond issue. The credit ratings 
awarded  did  not  change  in  2012:  the  KION  Group's  rating  was  B3/stable  (Moody’s)  and  B/stable 
(S&P), while the bond's was B2 (Moody’s) and B (S&P). 

During  the  new  financial  year,  Moody’s  raised  its  rating  outlook  for  the  KION  Group  from  stable  to 
positive. At  the  same  time,  the  very  successful  placement  of  an  additional  corporate  bond  has  also 
confirmed  KION’s  good  standing  with  bond  investors  (see  ‘Events  after  the  balance  sheet  date’  on 
page 57). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 46 of 69 

NON-FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

KION's enterprise value is determined not only by financial KPIs but to a significant extent also by non-
financial  ones.  The  non-financial  KPIs  are  based  on  KION's  relations  with  its  customers  and 
employees,  on  its  technological  position  and  on  environmental  considerations.  They  enable 
conclusions to be drawn about the extent to which KION succeeds in:  

•  being  an  attractive  and  responsible  employer  that  can  retain  competent  and  committed 

employees; 

•  developing products that meet customers' needs and environmental requirements now and in 

future; 

• 

continually increasing the customer benefits provided by its products and services; 

•  designing  production  processes  in  such  a  way  that  resources  are  conserved  and  emissions 

are avoided as far as possible. 

KION  firmly  believes  that  these  aspects  are  crucial  to  its  positioning  as  a  pioneering  company  in  a 
highly competitive environment. 

Human resources 

HR strategy 

KION's success is founded on the capabilities and commitment of its employees. The Group's human 
resources  (HR)  strategy  is  geared  towards  providing  the  best  possible  support  for  strategic 
development  and  international  growth.  KION  aims  to  always  have  a  sufficient  number  of  qualified, 
committed employees at all levels of the Group and to offer them attractive working conditions and the 
opportunities afforded by working for an international group of companies. This strategy also enables 
KION to tackle the challenges of demographic change. 

The KION Group's growth in 2012 was reflected in the size of its workforce, which amounted to 22,232 
employees on average over the  year (2011: 20,797 employees). As at 31 December 2012, a total of 
21,215  employees  (full-time  equivalents  including  trainees  and  apprentices)  were  employed  across 
the Group. The reduction is a result of spinning off the hydraulics business. A total of 1,487 employees 
transferred  to  the  new  company  Linde  Hydraulics  on  27  December  2012  and  therefore  no  longer 
belong to the KION Group.  

The number of employees in the LMH segment fell moderately. The aforementioned effect of the sale 
of the hydraulics business was largely offset by growth in other areas, including the acquisition of the 
sales  company  Linde  Creighton  Ltd.  with  300  full-time  equivalents.  The  service  teams  in  eastern 
Europe were also enlarged in order to meet growing demand in that region. In the STILL segment, the 
decline in the number of production employees – resulting from the transfer of production to other sites 
– was offset by an  increase in sales and service roles. The new FS segment's headcount advanced 
from 96 to 112 over the course of the year. 

Every region (except Germany) registered a  year-on-year rise in employee numbers. Germany is an 
exception to this, as the divestment of the hydraulics business resulted in a decrease in employees in 
the  KION  Group.  The  strongest  percentage  increases  occurred  in  the  Americas  and  China.  As  at 
31 December  2012,  65.1 per  cent  of  the  workforce  was  employed  outside  Germany  (31  December 
2011: 61.5 per cent). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 47 of 69 

Headcount  

Table 23 

Full-time equivalents

31/12/2012

Germ any
France
Rest of Europe
China
Americas
Rest of World

Total

31/12/2011

Germ any
France
Rest of Europe
China
Americas
Rest of World

Total

LMH

STILL

3,073
2,302
3,919
3,124
122
608

13,148

4,331
2,221
3,644
2,856
161
573

13,786

3,864
739
2,193
0
457
0

7,253

3,641
899
2,379
0
373
0

7,292

FS

21
13
52
9
1
16

112

16
16
55
1
3
5

96

Other

Total

439
95
0
0
0
168

702

428
107
2
0
0
151

688

7,397
3,149
6,164
3,133
580
792

21,215

8,416
3,243
6,080
2,857
537
729

21,862

the  minimum  possible  social 

Consolidation of the European production sites, which had been initiated in 2011, was implemented in 
2012  with 
in  close  collaboration  with  employee 
representatives.  The  site  in  Montataire  (France)  was  shut  down  and  manufacturing  of  warehouse 
trucks was transferred from there to Luzzara (Italy) in the fourth quarter of 2012. The site in Bari (Italy) 
closed in July 2012, with production of counterbalance trucks transferring to Hamburg. 

impact  and 

Due  to  higher  average  number  of  positions  during  the  year  under  review,  coupled  with  wage  and 
salary adjustments, personnel costs were 13.1 per cent higher than in the previous year.  

Table 24 

Personnel expenses

in € million

Wages and salaries
Social security contributions
Post-employment benefit costs

Total

2012

2011

Change

947
222
34

834
200
30

1,203

1,064

13.5%
11.1%
13.4%

13.0%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 48 of 69 

Diversity 

KION  sees  itself  as  a  global  provider  with  intercultural  skills  that  fosters  international  cooperation 
between employees – for example through the Linde expat programme, which enables employees to 
move  to  a  number  of  partner  countries. As  at  31  December  2012,  KION  employed  people  from  69 
different countries. 

Another  aspect  of  diversity  is  increasing  the  proportion  of  female  employees,  which  rose  from  14.7 
per cent to 15.9 per cent in 2012. Women occupied 8.6 per cent of management positions (2011: 8.2 
per cent).  

KION  has  taken  a  range  of  steps  to  tackle  the  challenges  of  demographic  change.  For  example,  it 
ensures working conditions are suited to employees' age-related requirements and organises healthy-
living  programmes  so  that  it  can  continue  to  benefit  from  older  employees'  experience.  KION  also 
offers  partial  retirement  models,  in  which  333  employees  were  participating  as  at  the  reporting  date 
(31  December  2011:  412).  On  this  date,  23 per  cent  of  employees  were  over  the  age  of  50 
(31 December 2011: 23 per cent).  

In  addition,  KION  offers  flexible  working-time  models  that  promote  a  good  work-life-balance.  For 
example, Linde MH signed a company agreement about 'teleworking/home office' in the first quarter of 
2012.  The  agreement  stipulates  the  terms  on  which  employees  can  work  at  home  on  a  mutually 
agreed, voluntary basis. 

Development of specialist workers and executives 

Finding highly qualified people to fill specialist and executive positions is crucial to KION's success. As 
a  result,  one  of  the  focuses  of  HR  work  was  again  the  recruitment  of  suitable  young  talent  in  2012. 
KION  endeavours  to  offer  them  interesting  development  opportunities  and  flexible,  family-friendly 
working-time models.  

The Group companies collaborate on areas such as talent management and training & development 
programmes.  This  helps  to  systematically  identify  and  support  staff  with  strong  potential,  high 
performers and experts in key functions. Launched in 2012, KION Campus is an international, cross-
brand  executive  development  programme  aimed  at  the  Group's  300  or  so  top  executives.  KION 
cooperates with the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) on the programme. In 
addition, new managers at STILL receive support under the First Leading programme during their first 
few  years.  Prospective  managers  can  enhance  their  skills  through  STILL's  Young  Professional 
programme,  while  international  staff  with  high  potential  can  participate  in  the  International  Junior 
Circle.  The  STILL  Academy  offers  subject-specific  and  interdisciplinary  skills  training  courses. 
Opportunities at LMH include a virtual assessment centre for future managers. 

In  March  2012  STILL  was  one  of  around  100  German  companies  to  receive  the  'Germany's  Top 
Employers  2012'  award.  Certification  for  this  award  is  carried  out  by  the  international  Corporate 
Research  Foundation  (CRF  Institute),  which  looks  at  what  employers  offer  in  terms  of  remuneration 
and  employee  benefits,  career  and  development  opportunities,  working  conditions  and  corporate 
culture.  

Training and professional development 

The  companies  in  the  KION  Group  currently  offer  training  for  17  professions  in  Germany.  They 
employed a total of 543 trainees and apprentices as at 31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: 621 
including the hydraulics business). Work placements for students combining vocational training with a 
degree course are also offered in cooperation with various universities. In the year under review STILL 
came third in the competition 'Hamburg's best workplace training providers'.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 49 of 69 

Health and safety in the workplace 

The  steps  that  the  KION  companies  must  take  with  regard  to  workplace  safety,  health  and  the 
environment  are  laid  down  in  a  corporate  policy.  According  to  this  document,  KION's  obligations 
include  taking  comprehensive  precautions  to  ensure  a  safe  working  environment  and  ensuring 
employees know how to avoid risks and accidents. 

Strict  rules  governing  health,  safety  and  the  environment  apply  in  all  areas  of  the  company.  In  the 
reporting  year,  ten  plants  were  audited  in  accordance  with  a  group-wide  standard.  The  audits 
increased  awareness  of  workplace  safety  and  highlighted  areas  for  improvement.  In  2012  the  KION 
companies arranged 783 training courses in Germany alone on various aspects of workplace safety. 
At 97 per cent, the health rate remained at the same high level as in the previous year. The number of 
workplace  accidents  and  the  workdays  lost  as  a  result  had  fallen  compared  with  2011. Analysis  of 
accidents and detailed action plans help to reduce risks in the workplace.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 50 of 69 

Research and development 

Strategic focus of research and development 

In  2012  the  KION  Group  again  channelled  a  considerable  proportion  of  its  product  revenue  into 
enhancing  its  portfolio  so  that  it  can  consolidate  its  position  as  a  leading  technology  provider. 
Research  and  development  (R&D)  is  therefore  geared  towards  the  overarching  aim  of  containing 
customers'  total  cost  of  ownership  (TCO)  –  including  purchase  price,  maintenance  and  repair  costs 
and fuel consumption – while complying with environmental targets and regulatory requirements. R&D 
activities  also  focus  on  integrating  KION's  logistics  solutions  into  customers'  value  chains  and 
harnessing the potential of new application areas. 

Brand-specific  and  cross-brand  modular  and  platform  strategies  are  pursued  to  ensure  R&D  is  as 
cost-efficient as possible. KION has taken steps to reduce the complexity and diversity of products and 
thereby accelerate the development process. The cross-brand R&D platform enables research results 
and technological expertise to be shared, although responsibility for product development lies mainly 
with the individual companies.  

In the year under review the KION Group continued to expand its international R&D facilities so that it 
can better cater to the different requirements of customers around the world. A research centre at the 
new São Paulo plant was set up in 2012 to develop trucks for the South American market. KION also 
expanded  its  development  departments  in  Xiamen,  China  and  Pune,  India.  Following  the  closure  of 
the  plant  in  Montataire,  France,  the  European  development  teams  for  warehouse  trucks  are  now 
located in Châtellerault, France and Luzzara, Italy.  

Key R&D figures 

The KION Group spent a total of €120 million on R&D  in 2012, the same amount as in the previous 
year. This corresponded to 2.5 per cent (2011: 2.8 per cent) of revenue, or 4.3 per cent of revenue in 
new trucks and the hydraulics business. Consequently, R&D costs during the year under review were 
higher  than  the  industry  average.  This  total  included  capitalised  development  costs  of  €51  million 
(2011:  €53  million),  which  were  offset  by  depreciat ion  and  amortisation  of  €56  million  (2011: 
€53 million)  (see  note  18,  page  32). The  4.1  per  ce nt  rise  in  the  amount  recognised  as  an  expense 
was  largely  attributable  to  a  multitude  of  new  developments  and  refinements  –  which  required 
additional headcount, above all in preliminary and series development – as well as higher salary costs 
and material costs. The cost increases were kept down by improving efficiency, notably through cross-
brand  cooperation  as  part  of modular  and  platform  strategies  and  by  concentrating  CAD  services  in 
Xiamen.  

The  number  of  full-time  equivalents  employed  in  R&D  totalled  847  as  at  the  reporting  date 
(31 December  2011:  914,  including  hydraulics  activities).  An  increase  in  full-time  positions  can  be 
calculated  on  a  comparable  basis,  which  primarily  related  to  the  expansion  of  the  KION  Asia 
development centre in Xiamen (China), whereas there was only an insignificant change in headcount 
in Europe.  

External costs predominantly related to engineering services, materials for prototype development and 
IT.  LMH  and  Linde  Hydraulics  have  begun  to  collaborate  closely  on  developing  new  hydraulics 
products for the future. 

Total R&D spending, including depreciation, amortisation and impairment, as well as capitalisation of 
assets, amounted to €120 million in 2012.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 51 of 69 

Table 25 

Total R&D spending

in € million

R&D expenses
Amortisation/impairment charges
Capitalised development expenses

Total R&D spending
R&D spending as percentage of revenue

2012

2011

Change

124
-56 
51

120
2.5%

120
-53 
53

120
2.8%

4.1%
-5.7%
-4.0%

-0.1%
-

KION  takes  comprehensive measures  to  protect  the  products  it  develops  against  imitations.  In  2012 
the KION companies registered a total of 63 patents. The number of patent applications totalled 96, of 
which  50  were  submitted  by  LMH  and  41  by  STILL.  The  decrease  year  on  year  (2011:  125  patent 
applications) results from the disposal of the hydraulics business. On a comparable basis, the number 
of patent applications increased moderately compared to the previous year.  

As at 31 December 2012, the companies of the KION Group held a total of 1,495 patent applications 
and issued patents (31 December 2011: 1,720 patent applications and issued patents).  

Focus of R&D in 2012 

Reduction of emissions and fuel consumption 

In light  of the stricter exhaust emissions standards, LMH and STILL undertook significant projects to 
reduce emissions (see also page 25and 56).  

For example, LMH put new engines into its counterbalance trucks in the 2.5-5 tonne weight category 
and fitted them with  a particulate filter system as standard in order to meet the  European  Stage IIIB 
limits  for  diesel-powered  forklift  trucks  with  an  output  of  37kW  or  higher,  which  came  into  force  in 
January 2013. Trucks in the Linde EVO series produce emissions at a far lower level than permitted 
limits and achieve double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption. Series production will begin 
in early 2013. Another major project at Linde was the development to production readiness of a new 
reach  truck.  This  truck  also  offers  lower  fuel  consumption  and  a  variety  of  attractive  new  product 
features.  In  addition,  LMH  expanded  the  range  of model  variants  in  its  electric  forklift  truck  series  in 
the 2-5 tonne weight category. 

A  focus  of  development  activities  at  STILL  was  the  new  reach  truck,  which  is  based  on  the  Group's 
platform concept. Two diesel counterbalance trucks in the 4-5 and 6-8 tonne weight category are also 
being  developed.  They  will  go  into  series  production  in  2013  and  will  also  comply  with  the  new 
emissions standards.  

Drive technology 

Development of new drive technologies centred on powerful lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid 
trucks.  Various  sizes  of  battery  for  hand  pallet  trucks  and  towing  vehicles  were  refined  at  the 
development centre in Châtellerault, France. LMH and STILL expect to offer the first trucks fitted with 
lithium-ion  batteries  at  the  end  of  2013.  They  store  considerably  more  energy  and  can  be  charged 
faster than lead-acid batteries. 

In addition, LMH and STILL are also pushing forward with the development of lithium-ion batteries for 
counterbalance  trucks  in  higher  weight  categories. Another  project,  which  LMH  is  working  on  with  a 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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strategic partner, is concerned with developing high-performance booster batteries for hybrid trucks. In 
2010 STILL was the first manufacturer worldwide to go into series production with a hybrid truck. This 
truck  combines  a  drive  system  based  on  an  internal  combustion  engine  with  a  breaking-energy 
recuperation system from an electric truck, enabling it to achieve very low emissions values. Customer 
testing of the trucks provided feedback for product development. In November 2012 the hybrid truck 
won  the  new  Federal  Ecodesign  Award  from  the  Federal  Ministry  for  the  Environment,  Nature 
Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the Federal Environment Agency.  

In 2012 LMH's Electronic Systems & Drives (ES&D) unit teamed up with a strategic partner to develop 
the Rotrac E2, an electric trolley for pulling very heavy loads. It can be used to shunt rail vehicles, for 
example. A prototype of a  container  loader  with  an  eco-friendly  drive concept for use at  airports has 
been undergoing field-testing since mid-2012. 

KION  is  also  participating  in  a  government-sponsored  research  project  (E-LOG-Biofleet)  to  improve 
handling and environmental friendliness using a fleet of industrial trucks with a fuel-cell hybrid solution. 
As part of the project, Linde equipped a fleet of ten trucks, which a customer has been putting through 
field  tests  since  the  end  of  2012.  The  strategic  partner  for  this  project  is  a  manufacturer  of  battery 
charging systems. STILL continued its longstanding international fuel cell activities for industrial trucks 
in 2012, putting an additional six trucks into operation for two clients. 

Workplace safety and ergonomics 

The  safety  features  of  the  industrial  trucks  continued  to  be  refined  in  2012.  The  new  models  in  the 
Linde EVO series are the world's first diesel trucks with a 'curve assist' system fitted as standard. This 
system  adjusts  cornering  speed  depending  on  the  steering  angle.  An  automatic  parking  brake  has 
been developed for electric trucks, thereby improving convenience and safety. STILL developed a new 
restraint system, netProtect, which operates automatically so that the driver does not have to fasten or 
undo the seatbelt manually. 

The  KION  companies  are  also  working  on  further  reducing  human  vibration  and  other  vibrations, 
including by improving the seats and cushioning. 

Region-specific and customer-specific design 

In  2012,  KION's  R&D  centre  in  Xiamen  focused  on  adapting  truck  concepts  to  meet  the  specific 
requirements of customers in China and other emerging markets. A basic, low-cost variant  of a new 
counterbalance  truck,  which  has  a  drive  unit  with  a  torque  converter,  was  almost  ready  for  series 
production  at  the  end  of  2012.  LMH  will  use  a  platform  concept  to  offer  three  models  with  different 
drive  systems  in  different  price  categories.  Progress  was  also  made  with  three  types  of  warehouse 
truck and a smaller towing vehicle that can pull loads of up to 2 tonnes. It will be marketed in China 
and elsewhere rounding out the product range at the lower end.  

In  2012  customisation  of  industrial  trucks  to  meet  customer  requirements  featured  more  heavily  in 
R&D  activities  than  in  previous  years.  The  modular  concept  is  intended  to  help  KION  to  fulfil 
customers' requirements with even greater flexibility and speed in future.  

Networking 

The  KION  Group  is  working  on  refining  material-flow  management  systems  (MMSs)  to  meet  the 
growing demand for automated solutions. At the Hannover trade fair in April 2012, STILL showcased a 
prototype  of  an  autonomous  reach  truck  that  can  independently  navigate  through  a  warehouse  and 
respond to changes in the environment. The prototype was built in cooperation with partners as part of 
a project sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
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The  order-picker  truck  that  was  launched  in  2012  can  also  navigate  independently.  The  STILL 
PalletShuttle  was  launched  in  2012:  this  semi-automatic  storage  and  retrieval  system  can  be 
integrated  with  STILL's  MMS.  Presented  at  CeBIT  2012,  the  Fleet  Data  Services  software  solution 
from STILL enables vehicle and driver data to be intelligently captured, formatted and made available 
online.  Since  February  2012  LMH  has  offered  an  extended  logistics  train  programme,  providing  a 
more flexible way of optimising production, warehouse and transport logistics. 

Represented by STILL, KION is participating in the IdentProLog research project, which is examining 
how to optimise the flow of goods by using radio frequency identification (RFID). The aim of the project 
is to establish consistent standards for RFID across the industry. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Customers 

Customer focus at KION 

KION focuses on the benefit for customers at every stage of the value chain. Its overarching objective 
is  to  make  the  TCO  –  the  total  acquisition  and  operating  costs  for  the  customer  –  as  attractive  as 
possible compared with competitor products. Central aspects of KION's focus on customers are: 

•  product development geared to creating benefits for customers (see page 50); 

• 

interlinking  of  product  and  service  business,  encompassing  spare  parts,  maintenance,  fleet 
management and financing solutions; 

•  more than 1,100 sales and service outlets in over 100 countries, staffed by more than 8,400 

employees and around 4,400 external service technicians and salespeople. 

The  individual  brand  companies  are  responsible  for  customer  relations.  They  use  tried-and-tested 
feedback processes, among other things, to obtain extensive knowledge about customer preferences 
in  the  different  regions  and  price  segments.  Key  account  managers  look  after  customers  who  are 
important in terms of the volume of unit sales and potential for growth and technology. Nevertheless, 
KION's  reliance  on  individual  customers  is  low:  the  ten  largest  customers  generated  6 per  cent  of 
consolidated revenue in 2012 (2011: 6 per cent).  

Customer-related performance indicators 

Systematic customer relationship management (CRM) is crucial to KION's success and is therefore an 
integral element of how the Company is run. Service levels remained high in 2012, with many services 
available  24  hours  a  day.  Faster  response  times  are  achieved  using  technologies  such  as  the 
STILLProActive  communications  system,  which  forwards  error  messages  to  service  engineers 
automatically. 

This high level of service is possible owing to the high number of KION trucks in use, which creates 
demand  for  after-sales  services.  KION  firmly  believes  that,  by  generating  a  high  proportion  of  total 
revenue from services, it can stabilise business performance and reduce its susceptibility to economic 
downturns. At 40 per cent in 2012, this proportion was at a similar level to 2011 (42 per cent).  

The  KION  companies  gauge  customer  satisfaction  in  feedback  discussions  and  from  the  degree  of 
customer loyalty. STILL carries out regular customer satisfaction surveys in service and sales. A CRM 
project  has  also  been  launched  with  the  aim  of  gaining  a  better  understanding  of  the  customer 
structure and customer needs so that resources can be deployed in an even more targeted manner. 
The  number  and  quality  of  contacts  with  customers  at  trade  fairs  enable  KION  to  draw  conclusions 
about existing and new customers' interest in product innovations.  

KION's overarching aim of offering customers a lower TCO than competitors was confirmed by, among 
other  things,  a  study  by  the  TÜV  NORD  Group.  Two  Linde  warehouse  trucks  were  subjected  to  a 
performance test in the study, which found that their total operating costs – including energy costs – 
offered potential savings of up to 20 per cent compared with competitor products.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Marketing and sales activities 

As in previous  years KION took the opportunity to showcase its range of products and services at a 
number of exhibitions and trade fairs.  

Having acquired its trading partner Liftec Rusfors in 2011, LMH had its own stand for the first time at 
CeMAT  Russia  –  the  foremost  logistics  trade  fair  in  Russia.  LMH's  StaplerCup,  an  international 
competition for forklift truck drivers, won the European Best Event Award (EuBEA) in Milan. Two trade 
fairs in Germany – MobiliTec in Hannover and sps ipc drives in Nuremberg – provided an opportunity 
to  showcase  the  portfolio  of  electric  trucks  and  electric  drive  systems.  Baoli  participated  in  CeMAT 
Asia, where it presented its new D series of forklift trucks in the 3-tonne weight category.  

STILL  demonstrated  product  innovations  at  the  Hannover  trade  fair  as  well  as  updated  intralogistics 
solutions  at  CeBIT  2012. At  the  International  Supply  Chain  Conference  in  Berlin,  STILL  reported  on 
the  use of innovative  drive technologies. In 2011  STILL introduced the cubeXX  concept truck, which 
combines six different classes of industrial truck in a single vehicle, thereby creating greater flexibility 
in warehouse management. Moreover, STILL won the German Award for Business Communications in 
the category 'Best Event and Trade Fair Marketing' in 2012. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Sustainability 

KION endeavours to achieve a balance between environmental, economic and social considerations 
in its business activities. This focus on sustainability is reflected in the development of eco-friendly and 
safe  products  that  help  customers  to  conserve  energy,  reduce  emissions  and  comply  with  strict 
workplace safety standards (see the section on research and development, pages 50 to 53).  

Furthermore KION designs the production processes in its plants around the globe to have as minimal 
an impact on the environment as possible. The corporate policy on health, safety and the environment, 
which  was  issued  in  November  2011,  defines  a  number  of  requirements  for  the  KION  companies, 
including: 

•  avoiding  the  release  of  pollutants,  discharge  and  emissions  into  the  environment  as  far  as 

possible; 

• 

reducing  the  volume  of  waste  by  making  better  use  of  raw  materials  and  using  recyclable 
materials; 

•  using materials, products and processes that comply with best environmental practice; and 

•  using resources, energy and raw materials efficiently. 

All  plants  capture  data  about  their  energy  consumption,  volumes  of  waste  and  recycling,  water 
consumption,  CO2  emissions  and  volatile  organic  compounds  (VOC).  This  data  is  included  in  an 
annual  internal  environmental  report.  Data  for  2012  was  not  available  at  the  time  this  group 
management report was compiled.  

According to the 2011 environmental report, energy consumption had declined slightly compared with 
2010  despite  the  increased  volume  of  production.  As  in  2010  around  50 per  cent  of  the  energy 
consumed  was  electricity  and  just  under  30 per  cent  was  gas. Approximately  92.5 per  cent  of  waste 
was recycled, resulting in a further year-on-year decrease in the volume of waste. Water consumption 
rose slightly, VOC emissions declined significantly and CO2 emissions were slightly higher compared 
with 2010. 

The  Aschaffenburg  site  took  significant  steps  in  the  year  under  review  to  ensure  environmentally-
friendly production by participating in a climate change project in the Lower Main region of Bavaria and 
by implementing a heat recovery system in its foundry.  

LMH and STILL also took part in the Blue Competence sustainability initiative launched by the VDMA, 
in which participating companies from the plant and mechanical engineering sectors present examples 
of solutions that protect the environment and conserve resources.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE 

On  11  January  2013,  the  Supervisory  Board  of  KION  GROUP  GmbH  expanded  the  Company's 
Executive Board. Ching Pong Quek, who has headed up KION's entire Asia business since 2008, was 
appointed  to  the  Executive  Board  as  Chief Asia  Pacific  Officer.  This  new  post  has  been  created  in 
recognition of the growing importance of the region for the Group's financial performance. 

The Supervisory Board has also made the management of the Linde and STILL brands more involved 
in running the Group as a  whole. The CEO of Linde  Material Handling GmbH, Theodor Maurer,  and 
the  CEO  of  STILL  GmbH,  Bert-Jan  Knoef,  have  also  been  appointed  to  the  Executive  Board  of  the 
KION Group. They remain in charge of their respective brand companies. 

The  KION  Group's  Executive  Board  now  has  five  members  and  is  presided  over  by  CEO  Gordon 
Riske.  CFO  Dr Thomas Toepfer  has  also  assumed  responsibility  for  HR  and  been  appointed  as  the 
KION Group's Labour Relations Director. Klaus Hofer, who had been in charge of human resources, 
has left the Company. 

At the end of January 2013, KION entered into consultations with employee representatives and trade 
unions  concerning  the  process  of  restructuring  of  its  container  handler  and  heavy  forklift  truck 
business. This  also  includes  the  intended  closure  of  LMH’s  plant  in  Merthyr Tydfil  (Wales,  UK). The 
proposed  measures  are  intended  to  sustainably  improve  KION’s  competitiveness  in  both  areas,  as 
well as the efficiency of its European production network. 

In  February  2013,  the  KION  Group  announced  that  Konecranes,  a  world-leading  group  of  Lifting 
BusinessesTM,  would  take  over  certain  assets  from  LMH’s  container  handling  truck  business.  The 
transaction should be concluded during the second quarter of 2013. LMH will continue to offer reach 
stackers  and  empty  and  laden  container  handlers  in  the  future,  the  production  of  which  should  take 
place at  Konecranes  going forward.  Both companies  also signed a long-term supply  agreement and 
are  working  together  to  improve  their  respective  international  competitiveness  in  the  container 
handling truck business.  

In February 2013, KION Finance S.A. placed a senior secured note on the European bond market with 
a total  volume of €650 million. The proceeds  will b e  used to fully refinance  loans that  will fall  due in 
2014, as well as to partially refinance loans that will fall due in the following years. 

The senior secured bond, which will mature in 2020, was issued in a fixed-interest tranche (6.75 per 
cent) in the amount of €450 million,  and in a float ing-rate tranche (4.5 per cent  above the  prevailing 
three-month EURIBOR rate) in the amount of €200 mil

lion. 

As a result of the successful bond placement and refinancing, KION is extending the maturity profile of 
the  Group’s  financial  debt  until  the  year  2020,  as  well  as  expanding  its  circle  of  investors.  In 
connection with the bond placement, Moody’s raised its rating outlook for KION from stable to positive. 
In  doing  so,  Moody’s  is  reacting  to  KION’s  positive  operational  performance  since  its  initial  bond 
placement in 2011, as well as to the reduction of its financial debt and improved strategic perspectives. 

The  capital  increase  that  was  resolved  in  2012  in  connection  with  Weichai  Power’s  25  per  cent 
shareholding was entered in the commercial register on 14 January 2013. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS 

Opportunities report 

Recognising and seizing market, strategic and operational opportunities is an essential element of the 
KION’s  value-driven  management.  To  identify  these  opportunities,  the  Company  systematically 
monitors, analyses and evaluates its relevant markets and tracks sectoral and macroeconomic trends. 
Strategic measures are adopted and implemented on this basis at KION. These are always aimed at 
profitable growth and a sustained increase in shareholder value. 

KION's  strengths  and  strategy  –  described  in  detail  on  pages  14  to  17  –  provide  the  Company  with 
considerable opportunities.  

Significant market opportunities are presented, in particular, by:  

•  growing demand for intralogistics products and services as a consequence of globalisation 

•  high demand for replacement investments, especially in developed markets 

• 

the trend towards outsourcing service functions to industrial truck manufacturers 

KION's strategic opportunities result, in particular, from: 

• 

strengthening  of  its  market-leading  position  in  core  western  European  markets,  especially  in 
view of its leading technology and high proportion of customer-specific fittings; 

•  expansion of the service portfolio at every stage of the product lifecycle, taking advantage of 

the high number of trucks in use; 

•  harnessing  of  market  potential  in  fast-growing  regions,  including  through  the  strategic 

partnership concluded with Weichai Power in 2012 

The  main  opportunities  involving  the  supply  of  goods  and  services  arise  in  connection  with  the 
optimisation  of  production  and  the  leveraging  of  group-wide  synergies. The  associated  cost  benefits 
boost the Group's competitiveness. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
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Risk report 

Principles of risk management 

KION  encounters  business risks that may jeopardise  its business objectives. Risk management, like 
opportunity management, therefore forms an integral part of the Company's day-to-day management. 
To ensure that the risk management systems are fully integrated into KION's overall financial planning 
and reporting process, they are located in the Group Accounting & Finance function.  

The procedures governing the KION Group's risk management activities are laid down in internal risk 
guidelines. For certain types of risk, such as financial risk or risks arising from financial services, the 
relevant departments also have guidelines that are specifically geared to these matters and describe 
how to deal  with  inherent risks. Risk management is  organised  in such a  way that  it directly reflects 
the  structure  of  the  Group  itself.  Consequently,  risk  officers  supported  by  risk  managers  have  been 
appointed  for  each  company  and  each  division. A  central  Group  risk  manager  is  responsible  for  the 
implementation  of  risk  management  processes  in  line  with  procedures  throughout  the  Group.  His  or 
her  remit  includes  the  definition  and  implementation  of  standards  to  ensure  that  risks  are  uniformly 
captured and evaluated.  

The  risk  management  process  is  organised  on  a  decentralised  basis.  Firstly,  a  group-wide  risk 
catalogue  is  used  to  capture  the  risks  attaching  to  each  company.  Each  risk  must  be  captured 
individually.  If  the  losses  caused  by  a  specific  risk  or  the  likelihood  of  this  risk  occurring  exceed  a 
defined  limit,  the  KION  Group's  Executive  Board  and  its Accounting  &  Finance  function  are  notified 
immediately.  Each  risk  is  documented  in  a  specially  developed  module  within  the  internet-based 
reporting system used for the entire planning and reporting process.  

The risks reported by the individual companies are combined to form divisional risk reports as part of a 
rigorous reporting process. To this end, minuted risk management meetings are held once a quarter. 
Moreover, material risks are discussed at the quarterly business review meetings. The divisional risk 
reports are then used to compile an overall risk portfolio for the KION Group as a whole. To support 
this,  additional  meetings  are  held  each  quarter  with  relevant  departments  of  the  holding  company  in 
order  to  identify  and  assess  risk,  above  all  Company-wide,  cross-brand  risk  affecting  areas  such  as 
treasury,  purchasing,  tax,  human  resources  and  financial  services.  The  Executive  Board  of  KION 
GROUP GmbH and the Supervisory Board's audit committee are informed of the Group's risk position 
at least once a quarter. 

Material features of the internal control and risk management system pertaining to the (Group) 
accounting process  

Principles  

The main objectives of the special accounting-related internal control system are to avoid the risk of 
material  misstatements  in  financial  reporting,  to  identify  material  mismeasurement  and  to  ensure 
compliance  with  applicable  regulations  and  internal  work  instructions.  There  can,  however,  be  no 
absolute certainty that these objectives are achieved in full and at all times. 

Material processes and controls in the (Group) accounting process  

For  its  (Group)  accounting  process,  KION  has  defined  suitable  structures  and  processes  within  its 
internal control and risk management system and implemented them in the organisation. Changes to 
the law, accounting standards and other pronouncements are continually analysed with regard to their 
relevance  and  effect  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements;  the  relevant  changes  are  then 
incorporated into the Group's internal policies and systems. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Besides defined control mechanisms, this special accounting-related internal control system includes, 
for example, system-based and manual reconciliation processes, separation of functions, the double-
checking principle and adherence to policies and instructions. 

The  employees  involved  in  the  Group's  accounting  process  receive  regular  training  in  this  field. 
Throughout  the  accounting  process,  the  local  companies  are  supported  by  central  points  of  contact. 
The  consolidated  accounts  are  drawn  up  centrally  using  data  from  the  consolidated  subsidiaries.  A 
consolidation  department  with  specially  trained  employees  carries  out  the  consolidation  activities, 
reconciliations  and  monitoring  of  the  stipulated  deadlines  and  processes.  This  team  monitors  the 
system-based  controls  and  supplements  them  with  manual  checks.  The  entire  accounting  process 
contains a number of specific approval stages. Employees with the relevant expertise provide support 
on specialist questions and complex issues. The central Internal Audit department also checks, among 
other  things,  the  reliability  of  the  accounting  work  by  the  subsidiaries  in  Germany  and  abroad.  It 
focuses primarily on the following aspects: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

compliance  with  legal  requirements,  directives  from  the  Executive  Board,  other  policies  and 
internal instructions; 

integrity and effectiveness of the internal control systems for avoiding financial losses; 

correct performance of tasks and compliance with business principles; 

formal and material correctness of the accounting and of the financial reporting that is based 
on the accounting. 

Market risks  

Cyclical  fluctuations  in  macroeconomic  activity  affect  the  market  for  industrial  trucks.  Customers' 
decisions  on  whether  to  invest,  particularly  in  new  trucks,  depend  to  a  large  degree  on  the 
macroeconomic situation and conditions in their particular sector. During an economic downturn, such 
as  the  financial  and  economic  crisis  of  2008–2009,  customers  tend  to  postpone  their  purchases  of 
new trucks. Although demand for services is less cyclical, it correlates with the degree of utilisation in 
the truck fleet – which usually declines during difficult economic periods. As KION can only adjust its 
fixed costs to fluctuations in demand to a limited extent, reductions in revenue impact on earnings.  

Various  measures  aimed  at  making  cost  structures  more  flexible  –  such  as  the  consolidation  of 
production facilities –  help  to contain the earnings risk arising from reductions in revenue caused by 
economic conditions. Diversification of the customer base  in terms of industry  and region  as  well as 
expansion of service activities also play a role in mitigating risk. Moreover, KION closely monitors the 
market  and  its  competitors  so  that  it  can  identify  market  risks  at  an  early  stage  and  adjust  its 
production capacities in good time.  

Despite KION’s strong growth in emerging markets, the proportion of revenue it earns in the euro zone 
continues  to  be  high.  As  a  result,  the  market  conditions  that  prevail  in  the  euro  zone  impact 
significantly  on  KION's  financial  performance.  Budget  consolidation  in  affected  euro-zone  countries 
has resulted in faltering economic growth and higher unemployment. Doubts surrounding the stability 
of  the  financial  system  and  the  continued  existence  of  the  single  currency  have  not  been  allayed, 
despite a tangible calming of the markets as a result of steps taken by the European Central Bank and 
politicians. These doubts are now compounded by fears about the high level of government debt in the 
United  States  and  the  declining  pace  of  growth  in  China.  Overall,  these  factors  could  reduce 
customers' willingness to invest and the resulting demand for KION products.  

Current  developments,  above  all  in  Europe,  are  making  it  increasingly  difficult  to  gauge  demand 
patterns  reliably.  The  precise  timing  and  even  the  extent  of  any  change  in  the  markets  remain 
uncertain.  KION  therefore  continually  monitors  macroeconomic  and  market  conditions  so  that  it  can 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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react at an early stage.  Besides global economic growth,  KION  also analyses exchange rates,  price 
stability,  the  consumer  and  investment  climate,  foreign  trade  activity  and  political  stability  in  its  key 
sales markets. 

Due to the strained financial and economic situation in the euro zone, risk management analyses its 
possible  impact  on  the  Group’s  financial  position  and  financial  performance  on  an  ongoing  basis.  In 
addition to continuous screening and monitoring, separate observations are regularly made in its risk 
reports concerning the risks surrounding the member state financial crisis. 

Competition risks  

The markets in which KION operates are characterised by strong competition, including with regard to 
prices. Although  KION's  strengths  (see  page  14)  have  enabled  it  to  charge  appropriate  prices  until 
now, competition risks could have  a negative impact  on the Group's  business situation and financial 
performance.  

Manufacturers  from Asia  have  cost  advantages  in  production  due  to  the  currency  situation  and  also 
because  local  labour  costs  are  lower.  Competition  is  therefore  very  fierce,  particularly  in  the  lower 
price  segment  and  in  emerging  markets.  Building  on  their  local  competitive  advantages,  Asian 
manufacturers – especially those from China – are also looking for opportunities to expand. Although 
customers'  high  quality  expectations  and  service  needs  form  a  barrier  to  growth  for  many  of  these 
manufacturers, this situation is likely to intensify competition in future.  

It is also conceivable that competitors will join forces and their resulting greater competitiveness will be 
detrimental to KION's sales opportunities. Moreover, predictions of higher volumes and margins may 
lead to overcapacity, which would put increased pressure on prices.  

Alliances,  partnerships,  acquisitions  and  other  measures  are  playing  an  increasing  role  in  improving 
KION's competitiveness in terms of resources, market access and product range. The steps that KION 
is taking to mitigate its competition risk include making its plants more efficient and securing low-cost 
sources  of  supply,  for  example  through  its  strategic  partnership  with  Weichai  Power.  KION  also 
continually evaluates its options for strengthening and consolidating its position in emerging markets.  

Research and development risks 

KION's market position and business performance depend to a large extent on its ability to remain a 
leading  provider  of  technology.  This  requires  the  Group  to  continually  develop  products  that  meet 
customer  expectations  and  comply  with  changing  regulatory  and  technological  requirements. To  this 
end,  KION  must  anticipate  customers'  needs  and  quickly  bring  new  products  to  market.  If  the 
Company  does  not  succeed  in  doing  this,  its  technological  and  competitive  position  could  be 
compromised in the long term.  

KION  counteracts  research  and  development  risks  by  carefully  managing  customer  relations  (see 
page 54), focusing on customer benefits (TCO) in its product development (see page 50) and ensuring 
close  cooperation  between  sales  and  development  teams  in  order  to  continuously  incorporate 
customer requirements into the development process. 

The innovations developed by KION and its subsidiaries are comprehensively protected by intellectual 
property  rights,  in  particular  patents.  Nevertheless,  there  is  always  the  possibility  that  products  or 
product components will be imitated. There is also a risk that patent applications will not be successful. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 62 of 69 

Strategic risks 

A mainstay of KION's strategy is the exploitation of potential offered by fast-growing regions in respect 
of strategic partnerships, joint ventures and the acquisition of local providers. One of the risks of such 
alliances  and  acquisitions  is  that  the  expected  benefits  will  materialise  only  partly  or  not  at  all.  For 
example,  the  organisational  integration  of  new  units  can  harm  financial  performance  for  a  variety  of 
reasons. Other strategic risks arise from having inadequate experience of specific political, economic 
or  cultural  parameters  in  target  markets  and  if  there  is  a  lack  of  attractive  strategic  partners  or 
companies suitable for acquisition. It is also possible that a partner will collaborate with competitors if 
exclusivity agreements are not in place.  

KION mitigates such strategic risks by, for example, carrying out in-depth market research, conducting 
thorough evaluation procedures and  drafting  appropriate contracts – including as part of its strategic 
partnership with Weichai Power. 

In the course of that partnership, Weichai Power acquired the majority of KION’s hydraulics business. 
To  build  its  industrial  trucks,  LMH  requires  hydraulic  components  that  are  manufactured  by  the 
affiliated  company  Linde  Hydraulics.  Because  LMH  is  highly  dependent  on  these  components,  their 
supply  is  secured  by  detailed  contractual  agreements.  LMH  also  has  access  to  patents  and  other 
intellectual property rights that are important to its business activities. This mitigates the risks resulting 
from no longer having unrestricted access to the hydraulics business.  

Procurement and sales risks 

Procurement activities constitute a potential risk for the KION Group in terms of the lack of availability 
of  parts  and  components  for  logistical  or  qualitative  reasons,  and  the  rising  cost  of  raw  materials, 
energy, base products and intermediate products. As a result, there is always the possibility that KION 
will face backlogs in the supply of individual raw materials and components. KION obtains some of its 
key  components,  such  as  combustion  engines,  tyres,  high-performance  forged  and  electronic  parts, 
from a limited number of core suppliers.  

Although there were no substantial supply bottlenecks in 2012, the risk of supply bottlenecks – such 
as in the event of a shortage of raw materials – cannot be eliminated. It is also possible that suppliers 
will  get  into  economic  difficulty  and  be  unable  to  fulfil  orders.  KION  mitigates  this  risk  through 
appropriate diversification of its supplier structure in the context of a global procurement organisation. 
In addition, the supplier development department, which focuses on making improvements to supplier 
production processes, helps suppliers to ensure the cost efficiency and qualitative excellence of their 
processes.  

Price changes present another procurement-related risk. In 2012 only around 27 per cent of the cost 
of  materials  for  new  trucks  was  directly  influenced  by  changes  in  commodity  prices.  Moreover, 
conditions  on  the  commodity  markets  typically  affect  component  prices  after  a  delay  of  three  to  six 
months. KION endeavours to pass on price increases to customers but cannot always do so entirely 
due to market pressures.  

The  main  sales  risks  –  besides  a  drop  in  revenue  caused  by  market  conditions  –  result  from 
dependence  on  individual  customers  and  sectors.  For  example,  it  is  possible  that  customers  would 
postpone  or  cancel  orders  during  a  period  of  economic  difficulty.  Significant  cancellations  have  not 
occurred  in  the  past  years,  however.  It  is  also  conceivable  that  customers  would  face  a  liquidity 
shortfall and therefore be unable to fulfil their payment obligations immediately or even at all. In terms 
of  its  customer  portfolio,  KION  is  currently  not  particularly  dependent  on  any  individual  sector.  Its 
business is also highly diversified from a regional perspective. In addition, KION supplies companies 
of all sizes. The risk of possible payment defaults, which experience has shown is low for KION, can 
be reduced further by realising collateral.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 63 of 69 

Production risks 

High-quality  products  and  a  high  level  of  delivery  reliability  are  key  aspects  of  KION's  premium 
positioning. Delays in delivery or a rise in the number of complaints could harm this position and, as a 
result, KION's financial situation. 

KION's  closely  integrated  manufacturing  network  presents  a  heightened  risk  to  its  ability  to  deliver 
goods  on  time  in  the  event  of  operational  disruptions  or  lengthy  periods  of  production  downtime  at 
individual  sites.  To  mitigate  these  risks,  the  KION  Group  carries  out  preventive  maintenance, 
implements fire protection measures, trains its staff and builds a pool of external suppliers. 

The Company has taken out a commercially appropriate level of insurance cover against loss. Quality 
assurance  is  a  high  priority  throughout  the  value  chain  and  reduces  possible  quality-related  risks 
arising from the products and services provided. KION mitigates its quality-related risks significantly by 
applying  rigorous  quality  standards  to  its  development  activities,  conducting  stringent  controls 
throughout the process chain and maintaining close contact with customers and suppliers. 

Key measures related to consolidation  of the  European  production facilities  were completed  in 2012 
with the closure of plants in Italy and France. However, there is a risk that further structural measures 
and reorganisation projects, such as the process of restructuring the container handler and heavy-duty 
forklift business in Merthyr Tydfil, will not be implemented in future owing to disruption of production or 
strikes.  Furthermore,  costs  may  also  be  incurred  by  the  environmental  restoration  of  sites  that  have 
housed  production  facilities  for  many  years,  for  example  work  required  due  to  contamination.  Any 
damage  to  the  environment  may  also  lead  to  legal  disputes  and  give  rise  to  reputational  risk.  To 
mitigate  these  risks,  KION  undertakes  restructuring  measures  only  after  a  comprehensive  planning 
process  and  works  closely  with  employee  representatives  to  ensure  HR  measures  are  implemented 
with the minimum possible social impact.  

IT risks 

Tight  integration  between  the  different  sites  and  with  customers  and  other  companies  means  that 
KION also relies on its IT systems working flawlessly. KION mitigates any IT risks – which can in part 
arise from the consolidation of IT systems and infrastructure – by continuously working on developing 
a  robust,  expandable  and  flexible  IT  systems  landscape.  Internal  IT  resources  are  pooled  in  KION 
Information  Management  Services  GmbH,  which  has  well-established  processes  for  portfolio 
management  and  project  planning  and  control.  Quality  assurance  also  takes  place  via  external 
independent  audits.  Various  technical  and  organisational  measures  protect  the  data  of  KION  and  its 
Group companies against unauthorised access, misuse and loss. To that end, authorisation to access 
the group infrastructure is verified and logged, and a virus scanner and firewall systems are also used.  

Financial risks  

Despite considerable improvements in the funding situation during  the  year under review,  the Group 
remains  dependent  on  debt  financing  to  a  significant  degree.  This  results  in  obligations  relating  to 
interest and capital repayments. Group Treasury is responsible for ensuring that this does not hinder 
international growth and that sufficient financial resources are always available for this purpose.  

The main types of financial risks managed by Group Treasury, including risk from funding instruments, 
are  liquidity,  exchange-rate,  interest-rate  and  counterparty  risk.  Credit  risk  consists  solely  of 
counterparty  risks  attaching  to  financial  institutions.  Risk  management  procedures  issued  by  Group 
Treasury  stipulate  how  to  deal  with  the  aforementioned  risks.  In  contrast,  the  individual  Group 
companies directly manage counterparty risks involving customers. 

Acquisition financing as part of the Senior Facility Agreement essentially provides the Group with the 
flexibility needed to meet the requirements of the lending covenants. Accordingly, the KION Group has 

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 64 of 69 

secured acquisition finance in the form of committed credit lines. The individual tranches have varying 
maturities from the end of 2013 to 2018. During the year under review, KION significantly reduced its 
financial liabilities by converting a shareholder  loan and receiving the contribution by Weichai Power 
as part of a resolution to carry out a capital increase (see pages 37 to 40). In the course of negotiating 
with  its  lenders,  KION  GROUP  GmbH  also  managed  to  extend  the  due  date  of  its  existing  credit 
ion.  In  addition,  €483  million  of  KION’s  original 
facilities  with  a  total  volume  of  more  than  €1  bill
acquisition  finance  was  funded  by  issuing  a  corporate  bond  for  a  total  of  €500  million  in April  2011, 
which will mature in 2018.  

The term of the revolving loan facility was extended considerably in the year under review (see page 
37).  Other  steps  to  ensure  the  Company's  long-term  funding  are  also  regularly  pursued.  As 
contractually agreed, the capex facility  was reduced  by approximately  €56 million over the course of 
2012. 

The  Company  generally  refers  to  credit  ratings  to  manage  counterparty  risk  when  depositing  funds 
with a financial institution. Deposits are also restricted to the limits covered by the deposit protection 
fund run by the Federal Association of German Banks.  

KION  only  uses  derivatives  to  hedge  underlying  operational  transactions;  they  are  not  used  for 
speculative purposes. Records are kept of the type of financial instruments used, the limits governing 
their use and the group of banks acting as counterparties.  

Group Treasury  rigorously  complies  with  and  monitors  the  strict  separation  of  functions  between  the 
front, middle  and back offices. Each Group company's liquidity planning is broken down by currency 
and  incorporated  into  KION's  financial  planning  and  reporting  process.  Group  Treasury  checks  the 
liquidity planning and uses it to determine the funding requirements of each company.  

KION  is  exposed  to  currency  risk  because  of  the  high  proportion  of  its  business  conducted  in 
currencies  other  than  the  euro.  Normally,  at  least  50  per  cent  of  the  currency  risk  related  to  the 
planned  operating  cash  flows  based  on  liquidity  planning  is  hedged  by  currency  forwards  in 
accordance  with  the  relevant  guideline.  The  KION  Group  uses  interest-rate  and  currency-related 
derivatives  –  primarily  interest-rate  swaps  and  currency  swaps  –  to  hedge  the  interest-rate  and 
currency  risks  arising  in  connection  with  the  acquisition  finance.  Approximately  65 per  cent  of  the 
currency  risk  arising  from  the  US  dollar  tranche  is  hedged  by  currency  forwards  with  an  average  €-
US$ exchange rate of around 1.29. At the end of 2012 around 48 per cent of the interest-rate risk was 
hedged by interest-rate swaps. The need to add new hedging instruments or replace ones that expire 
is reviewed on an ongoing basis. 

The funds raised for acquisitions also  give rise  to risks for KION in terms of compliance  with certain 
financial  covenants  specified  in  the  loan  agreement.  These  covenants  could  limit  the  Company's 
flexibility with regard to its ongoing strategic development. This risk continues to apply in view of the 
current uncertain economic and financial market environment. However, the Company is mitigating it 
by  continuing  steadfastly  with  steps  to  boost  efficiency  and  by  ensuring  sufficient  flexibility  when 
defining new lending agreements. KION complied with all the lending covenants in the reporting year. 

Accounting risks arising from goodwill and the brands  

Goodwill  and  the  brands  represented  33 per  cent  of  total  assets  as  at  31 December  2012 
(31 December  2011:  35  per  cent).  Pursuant  to  IFRS,  these  assets  are  not  amortised  and  their 
measurement depends, above all, on future expectations. If these future expectations are not fulfilled, 
there is a risk that impairment losses will have to be recognised on these assets. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 65 of 69 

Risks from financial services  

The  funding  terms  and  conditions  faced  by  the  lenders  themselves  (manifested,  for  example,  in  the 
payment of liquidity premiums on interbank lending) may result in a future shortage of lines of credit 
and/or  increased  financing  costs  for  companies.  However,  the  Group  currently  does  not  expect  any 
further changes in its lines of credit  or any  excessive increases  in margins. KION's leasing activities 
mean that it may be exposed to residual value risks from the marketing of trucks that are returned by 
the lessee at the end of a long-term lease and subsequently sold or re-leased. Residual values in the 
markets for used trucks are therefore constantly monitored and forecast. KION regularly assesses its 
overall risk position arising from financial services.  

The risks identified are immediately taken into account by the Company in the costing of new leases 
by recognising  writedowns or valuation allowances and adjusting the residual values. Risk-mitigating 
factors  include  the  demand  for  used  trucks,  which  stabilises  the  residual  values  of  KION's  industrial 
trucks. The majority of the residual values have underlying remarketing agreements that transfer any 
residual-value  risk  to  the  leasing  company. This  had  a  positive  impact  on  the  2012  financial  results. 
Group-wide standards to ensure that residual values are calculated conservatively, combined with an 
IT system for residual-value risk management, reduce risk and provide the basis on  which to create 
the transparency required. 

KION  mitigates  its  liquidity  risk  and  interest-rate  risk  by  ensuring  that  most  of  its  transactions  and 
funding  loans  have  matching  maturities.  Long-term  leases  are  primarily  based  on  fixed-interest 
agreements.  The  credit  facilities  provided  by  various  banks  ensure  that  the  Group  has  sufficient 
liquidity.  Moreover,  KION  offers  the  majority  of  financial  services  indirectly  via  selected  financing 
partners  that  bear  the  risks  of  the  finance  transaction.  In  order  to  exclude  exchange-rate  risk,  KION 
generally funds its leasing business in the local currency used in each market.  

Because  of  low  default  rates,  counterparty  risk  has  not  been  significant  to  date  in  the  KION  Group. 
The Group has not identified any material changes between 2011 and 2012. KION also mitigates any 
losses from defaults by its receipt of the proceeds from the sale of repossessed trucks. It also primarily 
offers  financial  services  indirectly  via  selected  financing  partners,  and  KION  bears  the  counterparty 
risk  in  under  5  per  cent  of  cases.  The  credit  risk  management  system  was  updated  during  2012  in 
preparation  for  the  pooling  of  financial  services  activities  in  a  separate  segment.  In  particular,  this 
involved  revising  the  regulations  concerning  the  process  organisation  as  well  as  processes  for  risk 
management and control. 

Human resources risks 

KION relies on having highly qualified managers and experts in key roles. If they left, it could have a 
long-term adverse impact on the Group's prospects.  

That  is  why  KION  actively  engages  in  HR  work  aimed  at  identifying  and  developing  young 
professionals with high potential who already work for the Company and retaining them over the long 
term, thereby enabling succession planning for key roles across the Group. KION also positions itself 
in the external market as an employer of choice. This will enable  it to make strategic additions to its 
portfolio  of  existing  staff  and,  in  this  way,  avert  the  risk  of  possibly  losing  expertise  and  thereby 
becoming less competitive. 

The  relocation  of  production  and  other  restructuring  measures  may  result  in  a  risk  of  strikes  and 
reactions  of  other  kinds  by  the  workforce.  As  demonstrated  several  times  in  the  past,  this  risk  is 
contained  by  collaborating  closely  with  employee  representatives,  and,  if  job  losses  are  necessary, 
taking comprehensive steps to ensure they are achieved with the minimum possible social impact. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 66 of 69 

Legal risks  

The legal risks arising from KION's business are typical of those faced by any company operating in 
this  sector. The  Group  companies  are  a  party  in  a  number  of  pending  lawsuits  in  various  countries. 
The  individual  companies  cannot  assume  with  any  degree  of  certainty  that  it  will  win  any  of  the 
lawsuits  or  that  the  existing  risk  provision  in  the  form  of  insurance  or  provisions  will  be  sufficient  in 
each  individual  case.  However,  the  KION  Group  is  not  expecting  any  of  these  existing  legal 
proceedings  to  have  a  material  impact  on  its  financial  position  or  financial  performance.  These 
lawsuits relate, among  other things, to liability risks, especially  as a result  of legal action brought by 
third  parties  because,  for  example,  the  Company's  products  were  allegedly  faulty  or  the  Company 
allegedly failed to comply with contractual obligations.  

The KION Group has taken measures to prevent it from incurring financial losses as a result of these 
risks. Although legal disputes with third parties have been insignificant both currently and in the past, 
the Company has a centralised reporting system to record and assist pending lawsuits. In addition to 
the high quality and safety standards applicable to all users of the Company's products, with which it 
complies  when  it  develops  and  manufactures  the  products,  it  has  also  taken  out  the  usual  types  of 
insurance  to  cover  any  third-party  claims. These  issues  are  also  tackled  by  teams  whose  members 
come from a variety of functions. The aim of the teams is to identify and minimise risks, for example 
the  risks  arising  from  inadequate  contractual  arrangements.  A  further  objective  of  this  cooperation 
across  functions  is  to  ensure  compliance  with  mandatory  laws,  regulations  and  contractual 
arrangements at all times. 

External risks  

External  risks  arise  as  a  result  of  constant  changes  in  the  Company's  political,  legal  and  social 
environment.  Because  it  operates  in  countries  in  which  the  political  or  legal  situation  is  uncertain, 
KION is exposed to the consequent risk of government regulation, capital controls and expropriations. 
Although  fairly  unlikely,  natural  disasters  and  terrorist  attacks  constitute  a  further  risk  to  KION's 
financial position and financial performance. 

Aggregate risk  

In  2012  KION  continuously  analysed  the  risks  arising,  in  particular,  from  the  financial  crisis  and  the 
performance of the real economy in addition to its normal quarterly risk reporting. Particular attention 
was paid to the potential impact of financial instability in some economies and financial institutions in 
the context of the sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone. As far as possible, risk prevention measures 
were initiated at an early stage where risks were identified.  

As conditions in the financial markets eased in the second half of 2012 and global growth is expected 
to pick up slightly in 2013, KION is acting under the assumption that the economic environment will be 
somewhat more favourable in 2013 than in the year under review. The situation in the global markets 
remains challenging, however. Uncertainties in the euro zone, the high level of government debt in the 
United  States  and  comparatively  muted  growth  prospects  in  the  developed  markets  all  continue  to 
pose a substantial threat to growth. 

As things stand at present, there are no indications of any risks that could jeopardise the Company's 
continuation as a going concern. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 67 of 69 

Outlook 

The  forward-looking  statements  and  information  given  below  are  based  on  the  Company's  current 
expectations and assessments. Consequently, they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Many 
factors,  several  of  which  are  beyond  the  control  of  KION,  affect  the  Group's  business  activities  and 
profitability. Any  unexpected  developments  in  the  global  economy  would  result  in  the  KION  Group's 
performance and profits differing significantly from those forecast below. KION does not undertake to 
update  forward-looking  statements  to  reflect  subsequently  occurring  events  or  circumstances. 
Furthermore, KION cannot guarantee that future performance and actual results will be consistent with 
the stated assumptions and estimates and can accept no liability in this regard. 

Expected macroeconomic conditions 

According to estimates made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global economic growth may 
pick  up  slightly  in  2013,  amounting  to  3.5  per  cent  (2012  estimate:  3.2  per  cent).  The  purchasing 
managers’  index  (PMI)  also  signals  a  slight  economic  recovery.  Growth  prospects  are  better  in 
particular for emerging markets such as Brazil and China, which could provide considerable stimulus 
for European exports. The outlook for the euro zone still assumes slightly negative growth, however. 
On the other hand, an economic upturn is anticipated in the euro zone beginning in 2014, which could 
also provide additional momentum to the growth anticipated globally.  

Global growth will be fuelled, above all, by a rise in capital expenditure, whereas consumer spending 
may only increase to a small extent. The IMF predicts that the volume of global trade will grow more 
robustly than it did in 2012. It also anticipates a moderate fall in commodity prices. 

Overall,  therefore,  economic  conditions  may  already  be  somewhat  more  benign  in  2013  than  in  the 
year under review. However, this forecast is based on the assumption that monetary and fiscal policy 
will  support  the  global  economy.  There  are  also  considerable  risks  resulting,  in  particular,  from  the 
sovereign debt problems in the euro zone and the United States, consolidation and tightening of public 
finances as well as a possible destabilisation of the financial markets.  

Expected sectoral conditions 

The overall market for industrial trucks will continue to depend heavily on economic conditions in key 
sales  markets,  with  the  level  of  capital  investment  and  the  growth  in  global  trade  being  particularly 
crucial. Whereas  the  global  market  for  industrial  trucks  in  2012  was  around  3  per  cent  down  on  the 
record  level  achieved  in  2011,  KION  expects  demand  to  recover  slightly  in  2013  as  well  as  in  the 
following  year.  China,  other  Asian  countries  and  eastern  Europe  are  likely  to  be  the  main  growth 
engines in the market. Stable demand is expected in western Europe, fuelled predominantly by the in 
some cases overdue replacement of old trucks.  

Market  expectations  are  also  positive 
longer-term  perspective.  Based  on  current 
macroeconomic forecasts and in view of past market performance, KION predicts an average annual 
growth rate of about 4 per cent for the next five years, which should not involve any significant shifts of 
the shares of the individual product segments in total revenue. 

from  a 

Expected business situation and financial performance 

In 2012 KION laid the foundations for continued profitable growth in subsequent years. Drawing on its 
multi-brand  strategy  and  the  successive  expansion  of  its  service  business,  the  Group  intends  to  tap 
the  potential  offered  by  the  developed  markets  of  western  Europe  and  the  emerging  markets.  A 
continuing high level of capital investment and research and development spending serve to preserve 
the  technological  leadership  of  LMH  and  STILL,  and  ensure  their  continued  position  as  premium 
brands.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 68 of 69 

Adjusted Group revenue is expected to be higher in 2013 than in 2012. KION anticipates that the new 
truck  business  will  initially  grow  at  a  faster  rate  than  the  service  business  in  2013  because  of  the 
strong demand for replacement investment – as a result of the investment backlog from the financial 
crisis  –  and  due  to  increasing  product  sales  in  Asia  and  Latin  America.  Once  pent-up  capital 
investment has been exhausted, KION expects that the next few years will see above-average growth 
of the service business due to the large number of trucks that already exist on the market. The service 
business is expected to contribute around 40 per cent of consolidated revenue. 

The emerging markets are predicted to again be a significant factor in the growth of revenue. In this 
context, the partnership with Weichai Power is expected to have a positive impact in the Chinese and 
Asian  markets  as  early  as  2013,  leading  to  intensified  sales  activities  in  these  markets.  Additional 
options, such as consolidating the forklift business in China, are currently being examined. Unit sales 
in Latin America are forecast to rise on the back of increased production capacity and intensified sales 
activities.  The  service  network  in  western  and  eastern  Europe,  which  was  expanded  in  2012,  is 
intended to make a considerable contribution to growth also in the new truck business.  

Similar to the Group as a whole, the two segments LMH and STILL are aiming for a moderate rise in 
revenue in 2013. Following the deconsolidation of the hydraulics business, LMH intends to increase its 
volume  of  business  in  all  key  sales  regions,  with  above-average  revenue  growth  in  Asia  and  other 
growth  markets.  STILL  expects  to  generate  growth  in  Latin America  and  eastern  Europe.  Moreover, 
sales  in  2012  were  also  impaired  by  shifts  in  production.  Adjusted  EBIT  is  expected  to  improve 
moderately  in  both  segments.  KION  forecasts  a  further  rise  in  the  volume  of  leasing  in  the  FS 
segment,  accompanied  by  almost  unchanged  EBT. As  in  2012  this  business  will  be  concentrated  in 
western Europe. 

The  good  market  position  of  the  brands,  the  broad  product  portfolio,  high  market  share  in  the  core 
markets  in  Germany  and  France,  good  positioning  in  growth  markets,  growing  service  business,  the 
measures  taken  towards  a  more  flexible  cost  structure  as  well  as  economies  of  scale  should  all 
contribute to moderately improving the adjusted EBIT margin in 2013 as well. It will also be positively 
influenced by the consolidation of the European production facilities, which was largely completed in 
2012.  The  higher  proportion  of  procurement  in  emerging  markets,  which  will  be  supported  by  the 
partnership with Weichai Power, should have a positive effect on earnings by as early as 2013.  

The consolidated result for 2012 was influenced by positive one-off items that will not occur again to 
the  same  extent.  For  2013,  however,  slightly  positive  consolidated  net  income  is  expected,  which 
should also reflect the reduction of debt. 

In  2014,  KION  anticipates  further  moderate  revenue  growth,  slightly  improved  adjusted  EBIT,  and 
continued positive net income, all on the back of even more buoyant global economic growth. 

Expected financial position 

KION  significantly  improved  its  financial  position  in  2012,  particularly  owing  to  the  investment  of 
Weichai Power. As a result of the successful issue of the corporate bond in February 2013 (see page 
57), the debt maturity structure has also been extended. All in all, KION has significantly expanded its 
financial flexibility and possesses a sound foundation for its course of growth.  

The  Company  will  continue  to  reduce  debt  levels  while  at  the  same  time  optimising  the  funding 
structure.  No  specific  steps  were  being  planned  at  the  time  this  group  management  report  was 
compiled.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH 

Group management report 2012 

Page 69 of 69 

Wiesbaden, 13 March 2013 

The Executive Board 

Gordon Riske 

Bert-Jan Knoef   

Theodor Maurer 

Ching Pong Quek 

Dr Thomas Toepfer 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION HOLDING 1 GmbH 
Wiesbaden 

Consolidated  
Financial Statements  
31 December 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Consolidated statement of income for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Consolidated income statement 

€ thousand

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit

Selling expenses
Research and development costs
Administrative expenses
Other income
Other expenses
Profit from at-equity investments
Other financial result

Earnings before interest and taxes

Financial income
Financial expense

Financial result

Earnings before taxes

Income taxes
  Current taxes
  Deferred taxes

Net income (loss)
  Attributable to shareholders of KION Holding 1 GmbH
  Attributable to non-controlling interests

Note

[9]

[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]

[14]
[15]

[16]

2012

2011 

4,726,664
-3,429,914 

4,368,395
-3,256,378 

1,296,750

1,112,017

-562,404 
-124,454 
-313,190 
294,374
-59,530 
15,912
2,655

-520,547 
-119,526 
-283,322 
81,503
-70,043 
11,192
1,886

550,113

213,160

62,084
-301,569 

73,664
-345,709 

-239,485 

-272,045 

310,628

-58,885 

-149,540 
-122,137 
-27,403 

161,088
159,008
2,080

-34,041 
-49,349 
15,308

-92,926 
-95,093 
2,167

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

€ thousand

Net income (loss)

Impact of exchange differences
  thereof changes in unrealised gains and losses
  thereof realised gains and losses

Gains/losses on employee benefits
  thereof changes in unrealised gains and losses
  thereof tax effect

Gains/losses on cash flow hedges
  thereof changes in unrealised gains and losses
  thereof realised gains and losses
  thereof tax effect

Gains/losses from at-equity investments
  thereof changes in unrealised gains and losses

Other comprehensive loss (income)

Total comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)
  Attributable to shareholders of KION Holding 1 GmbH
  Attributable to non-controlling interests

2012

2011

161,088

-92,926 

2,765
2,755
10

-151,311 
-214,109 
62,798

6,074
27,312
-19,662 
-1,576 

6,476
6,476
0

8,394
13,995
-5,601 

-8,149 
7,071
-18,452 
3,232

-26 
-26 

532
532

-142,498 

7,253

18,590

-85,673 

16,554
2,036

-87,840 
2,167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Consolidated statement of financial position at 31 December 2012 

ASSETS  

€ thousand

Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Leased assets
Rental assets
Other property, plant and equipment
At-equity investments
Lease receivables
Other non-current financial assets
Deferred taxes

Non-current assets

Inventories
Trade receivables
Lease receivables
Current income tax receivables
Other current financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Current assets

Note

2012

2011

1/1/2011

[18]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]
[16]

[25]
[26]
[23]
[16]
[24]
[27]

1,473,245
933,961
191,322
395,093
500,345
154,835
267,140
50,171
264,974

1,537,996
977,555
167,354
356,682
553,816
36,545
242,840
25,732
261,963

1,507,010
986,410
156,125
321,188
590,343
37,841
246,808
17,474
241,772

4,231,086

4,160,483

4,104,971

549,927
625,462
132,129
5,501
106,778
562,357

625,369
676,553
118,381
4,953
107,096
373,451

535,529
633,265
120,950
4,550
106,790
252,884

1,982,154

1,905,803

1,653,968

Total assets

6,213,240

6,066,286

5,758,939

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES  

€ thousand

Note

2012

2011

1/1/2011

Subscribed capital
Contributions for carrying out the approved capital increase
Capital reserve
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Non-controlling interests

Equity

Shareholder loan
Retirement benefit obligation
Non-current financial liabilities
Lease liabilities
Other non-current provisions
Other non-current financial liabilities
Deferred taxes

Non-current liabilities

Current financial liabilities
Trade payables
Lease liabilities
Current income tax liabilities
Other current provisions
Other current financial liabilities

Current liabilities

500
1,132,552
348,483
-647,687 
-179,672 
6,159

500
0
348,483
-806,429 
-37,218 
7,077

500
0
348,483
-711,504 
-44,471 
7,070

660,335

-487,587 

-399,922 

0
546,520
2,300,656
329,185
89,120
355,078
308,821

643,132
382,914
2,777,354
300,061
96,168
303,789
339,054

615,250
374,063
2,772,417
278,814
164,299
260,153
334,930

3,929,380

4,842,472

4,799,926

51,775
646,044
145,830
84,958
137,888
557,030

227,376
634,092
146,728
15,439
183,678
504,088

106,470
508,108
169,929
6,661
95,902
471,865

1,623,525

1,711,401

1,358,935

[28]

[30]
[29]
[30]
[31]
[32]
[33]
[16]

[30]

[31]
[16]
[32]
[33]

Total equity and liabilities

6,213,240

6,066,286

5,758,939

 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

€ thousand

Net income (loss)
+ income taxes
+ financial result

= Earnings before interest and taxes

Amortisation, depreciation and impairment charges of non-current assets 
(excl. leased assets and rental assets)
Depreciation/Impairment of leased assets and rental assets
Other non-cash income (-) and expenses (+)
Gains (-) / losses (+) on disposal of non-current assets 
Change in leased assets and rental assets
Change in lease receivables, lease liabilities and 
liabilities from finance leases
Change in inventories
Change in trade receivables
Change in trade payables
Cash payments for defined benefit obligations
Change in other provisions
Change in other operating assets
Change in other operating liabilities
Taxes paid

= Cash flow from operating activities

Cash receipts from disposal of non-current assets
Cash payments for purchase of non-current assets
Deposits from other loan claims
Dividends received
Interest income received
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
Cash proceeds from sale of entities (excl. cash and cash equivalents)
Cash payments (-) for sundry assets

= Cash flow from investing activities

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
Cash paid for increased ownership interests (after control)
Cash proceeds from sale of ownership interests (after control)
Contributions for carrying out the approved capital increase
Proceeds from borrowings
Loan financing costs paid

Transactions costs for carrying out the approved capital increase
Repayment of borrowings
Proceeds (+) / Repayment (-) of other capital borrowings
Cash receipts (+) / cash payments (-) for forward foreign exchange hedging contracts 
Interest paid 

2012

2011

161,088
149,540
239,485

-92,926 
34,041
272,045

550,113

213,160

184,042
181,227
-142,530 
-103,814 
-245,764 

24,592
20,513
56,850
-3,928 
-23,311 
-39,884 
-26,686 
37,020
-54,432 

192,068
163,953
9,943
6,428
-208,691 

26,056
-75,242 
-36,829 
114,886
-21,038 
13,989
334
30,346
-42,553 

414,008

386,810

7,353
-155,101 
-5,510 
5,317
4,488
-9,703 
259,746
-2,538 

3,408
-133,005 
2,879
6,599
3,397
-32,916 
0
-2,942 

104,052

-152,580 

-2,405 
-10,373 
138
467,000
7,676
-14,549 

-1,095 
-664,577 
-2,723 
20,490
-129,712 

-2,209 
-1,461 
82
0
632,691
-24,579 

0
-537,018 
-21,052 
-13,714 
-147,455 

= Cash flow from financing activities 

-330,130 

-114,715 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

976

1,052

= Change in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

188,906

120,567

373,451
562,357

252,884
373,451

 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

€ thousand

Subscribed 
capital

Contributions for 
carrying out the 
approved 
capital increase

Capital 
reserves

Retained 
earnings

Cumulative 
translation 
adjustment

 Gains/losses 
on defined 
benefit 
obligation

Gains/losses 
on Cash Flow 
Hedges

Gains/losses 
from equity 
investments

  Total equity 
attributable to 
shareholders

Non-controlling 
interests

Total

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Balance as at 1/1/2011

500

348,483

-711,504 

-42,025 

12,498

-14,819 

-125 

-406,992 

7,070

-399,922 

Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive loss
Dividends
Other Changes

Balance as at 31/12/2011

Balance as at 1/1/2012

Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income

Contributions for carrying out the 
approved capital increase
Transaction costs
Dividends 

Eff ects on the 
acquisition / disposal of 
non-controlling interests
Other changes

500

500

1,137,784
-5,232 

-95,093 

-95,093 

168

6,476
6,476

8,394
8,394

-8,149 
-8,149 

532
532

-95,093 
7,253
-87,840 

168

2,167

2,167
-2,209 
49

-92,926 
7,253
-85,673 
-2,209 
217

348,483

-806,429 

-35,549 

20,892

-22,968 

407

-494,664 

7,077

-487,587 

348,483

-806,429 

-35,549 

20,892

-22,968 

407

-494,664 

7,077

-487,587 

159,008

159,008

-425 
159

2,765
2,765

-151,267 
-151,267 

6,074
6,074

-26 
-26 

159,008
-142,454 
16,554

1,137,784
-5,232 

-425 
159

2,080
-44 
2,036

161,088
-142,498 
18,590

-2,405 

-549 

1,137,784
-5,232 
-2,405 

-974 
159

Balance as at 31/12/2012

500

1,132,552

348,483

-647,687 

-32,784 

-130,375 

-16,894 

381

654,176

6,159

660,335

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 1 of 88 

Notes  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  KION  Holding  1  GmbH  for  the 
year ended 31 December 2012 

Basis of presentation 

[ 1 ] 

General information on the Company  

KION  Holding  1  GmbH,  whose  registered  office  is  at  Abraham-Lincoln-Strasse  21,  65189  Wiesbaden,  is  the 
parent company of the KION Group in Germany. KION Holding 1 GmbH was formed with articles of association 
dated 24  October  2006,  and entered  in  the  commercial  register  at  the Wiesbaden Local  Court  under  reference 
HRB  22785  on  21  February  2007.  The  parent  company  of  KION  Holding  1  GmbH  is  Superlift  Holding  S.à  r.l., 
Luxembourg. 

The KION Group is a leading global supplier of industrial trucks (forklift trucks and warehouse trucks). It generat-
ed revenue of €4,726,664 thousand in the financial  year 2012 from its Linde, Fenwick, STILL, OM-STILL, Baoli 
and Voltas brands (2011: €4,368,395 thousand). 

The consolidated financial statements and the group management report were prepared by the Executive Board 
of KION Holding 1 GmbH on 13 March 2013.  

[ 2 ] 

Basis of preparation  

The consolidated financial statements of the KION Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2012 have 
been  prepared  in  accordance  with  section  315a  of  the  German  Commercial  Code  (HGB)  which  requires  the 
application  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRSs)  of  the  International  Accounting  Standards 
Board  (IASB)  applicable as  at  the  reporting  date as  well  as  the  associated interpretations  (IFRICs)  of  the  IFRS 
Interpretations Committee (IFRS IC) as adopted by the European Union in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 
1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the application of international accounting 
standards. All of the IFRSs and IFRICs that were issued by the reporting date and that were required to be ap-
plied in the financial year 2012 have been applied in preparation of the consolidated financial statements. 

Financial reporting standards adopted for the first time in the financial year under review: 

The following financial reporting standard was adopted for the first time in 2012:  

•  Amendments  to  IFRS  7  'Financial  Instruments:  Disclosures':  disclosures  relating  to  transfers  of  financial 

assets 

The first-time adoption of this standard has had no significant effect on the presentation of the financial position or 
financial performance of the KION Group.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 2 of 88 

Financial reporting standards issued but not yet adopted 

In the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 the KION Group has not applied 
the following standards and interpretations, which have been issued by the IASB but are not yet required to be 
adopted in 2012:  

•  Amendments  to  IFRS  1  'First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards':  amendments 

relating to fixed transition dates and severe hyperinflation 

•  Amendments  to  IFRS  1  'First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards':  amendments 

relating to government loans with a below-market rate of interest 

•  Amendments to IFRS 7 'Financial Instruments: Disclosures': offsetting of financial assets and financial liabili-

ties 

•  Amendments  to  IFRS  7  'Financial  Instruments:  Disclosures':  disclosures  about  the  transition  to  IFRS  9  'Fi-

nancial Instruments' 
IFRS 9 'Financial Instruments' 

• 
•  Amendments to IFRS 9 'Financial Instruments': mandatory effective date; 
• 
•  Amendments  to  IFRS  10  'Consolidated  Financial  Statements':  amendments  relating  to  the  consolidation  of 

IFRS 10 'Consolidated Financial Statements' 

investment entities 
IFRS 11 'Joint Arrangements' 
IFRS 12 'Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities' 

• 
• 
•  Amendments to IFRS 12 'Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities': amendments relating to the consolidation 

of investment entities 
Transition Guidance (Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 11 and IFRS 12) 
IFRS 13 'Fair Value Measurement' 

• 
• 
•  Amendments  to  IAS  1  'Presentation  of  Financial  Statements':  amendments  relating  to  the  presentation  of 

items of other comprehensive income 

•  Amendments to IAS 12 'Income Taxes': limited amendment to IAS 12 relating to the recovery of underlying 

assets 
IAS 19R 'Employee Benefits'  
IAS 27R 'Separate Financial Statements' 

• 
• 
•  Amendments to IAS 27 'Separate Financial Statements': amendments relating to the consolidation of invest-

ment entities 
IAS 28R 'Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures' 

• 
•  Amendments  to  IAS  32  'Financial  Instruments:  Presentation':  offsetting  of  financial  assets  and  financial 

liabilities 
IFRIC 20 'Stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface Mine' 
Improvements to IFRSs (2009-2011). 

• 
• 

These standards and interpretations will be applied by the companies included in the KION Group from the date 
on which they must be adopted for the first time.  

The transitional requirements of the revised IAS 19R 'Employee Benefits' require retrospective application. In the 
KION Group, actuarial gains and losses, in consideration of deferred taxes, are already recognised in other com-
prehensive income (loss). The Management expects that first-time adoption of the revised IAS 19 for the financial 
year 2013 will increase net income (after income taxes) by €1,030 thousand and decrease other comprehe nsive 
income (after deferred taxes) by €983 thousand due 
to the alignment of the expected return on plan assets with 
the discount rate for 2012. The retrospective recognition of previously unrecognised past service cost will result in 
a reduction of retained earnings by €749 thousand a s of 1 January 2012.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 3 of 88 

The impact of the first-time adoption of IFRS 10 'Consolidated Financial Statements' is currently still being evalu-
ated,  but  we  currently  do  not  anticipate  any  material  effects.  The  effects  of  the  first-time  adoption  of  the  other 
standards and interpretations on the financial position and financial performance of the KION Group are expected 
to be insignificant. 

The various amendments issued in May 2012 as part of the annual improvement project mainly relate to termino-
logical  and  editorial  aspects.  They  are  not  expected  to  have  any  significant  effect  on  the  presentation  of  the 
financial position and financial performance. 

In order to improve the clarity of presentation, certain items are aggregated on the face of the statement of finan-
cial  position  and  the income statement.  The  items concerned  are  presented  and  disclosed  in  the  notes.  Assets 
and  liabilities  are  classified  into  current  and  non-current  items  in  accordance  with  IAS  1.60.  The  consolidated 
income statement is prepared in accordance with the cost of sales (function-of-expense) method. 

The reporting currency is the euro. All amounts are disclosed in thousands of euros (€ thousand) unles s stated 
otherwise. The rounding of amounts added together may result in rounding differences of +/- €1 thousan d in the 
corresponding totals. The separate financial statements included in the consolidation were prepared at the same 
reporting date as the annual financial statements of KION Holding 1 GmbH. 

[ 3 ] 

Principles of consolidation 

Acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method. In accordance with IFRS 3R, the identifiable assets 
and  the  liabilities  assumed  on  the  acquisition  date  are  recognised  separately  from  goodwill,  irrespective  of  the 
extent of any non-controlling interests. The identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are measured 
at their fair value. 

The  amount  recognised  as  goodwill  is  calculated  as  the  amount  by  which  the  sum  of  the  consideration  trans-
ferred, the amount of non-controlling interests in the acquiree and the fair value of all previously held equity inter-
est at the acquisition-date exceeds the fair value of the group's interest in the acquiree's net assets. If the consid-
eration transferred is lower than the fair value of the acquiree's net assets, the difference is recognised as a gain. 

For each acquisition, the group decides on a case-by-case basis whether the non-controlling interest in the ac-
quiree  is  recognised  at  fair  value  or  as  the  present  proportion  of  the  net  assets  of  the  acquiree.  The  option  to 
recognise  non-controlling  interests  at  fair  value  is  currently  not  used.  As  a  result,  non-controlling  interests  are 
recognised at the proportionate share of the fair value of the net assets attributable to them excluding goodwill.  

For business contributions achieved in stages, previously held equity interests are recognised at their fair value 
on the acquisition-date. The difference between their carrying amount and fair value is recognised in the consoli-
dated income statement. 

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units that are likely to benefit from 
the business combination.  

Transaction  costs  are  immediately  recognised  in  the  income  statement.  Contingent  consideration  elements  are 
included at fair value at the acquisition-date when determining the consideration transferred. Contingent consid-
eration elements may consist of equity instruments or financial liabilities. Depending on the classification, changes 
in their fair value are reflected in subsequent measurements. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 4 of 88 

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  all  of  the  parent  company's  subsidiaries.  Intragroup  balances, 
transactions, income and expenses, and gains and losses on intercompany transactions are completely eliminat-
ed. Deferred taxes are recognised on temporary tax differences resulting from consolidation entries. 

Transactions  with  non-controlling  interests  are  treated  as  transactions  with  the  Group's  equity  investors.  Differ-
ences between the consideration paid for the acquisition of a non-controlling interest and the relevant proportion 
of the carrying amount of the subsidiary's net assets are recognised in other comprehensive income. Gains and 
losses  arising  from  the  sale  of  non-controlling  interests  are  also  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income, 
provided there is no change in control.  

Associates  and  joint  ventures  that  are  material  to  the  financial  position  and  financial  performance  of  the  KION 
Group are accounted for using the equity method.  

[ 4 ] 

Basis of consolidation  

KION Holding 1 GmbH's equity investments include subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and financial invest-
ments. 

In addition to KION Holding 1 GmbH, the consolidated financial statements of the KION Group include all material 
subsidiaries in which KION Holding 1 GmbH holds a majority of the voting rights, either directly or indirectly, and 
which it exercises control i.e. has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to 
obtain benefits from its activities. Subsidiaries acquired in the course of the financial year are consolidated from 
the date at which control is transferred, i.e. the date from which it is possible to govern their financial and operat-
ing policies so as to obtain benefits. Companies sold in the course of the financial year are deconsolidated from 
the date on which control is lost. 

A joint venture is an equity interest in which the entity is jointly managed by companies in the KION Group and 
one  or  more  partners.  Joint  control  differs  from  significant  influence  insofar  as  it  is  governed  by  a  contractual 
agreement. 

Associates  are  entities  in  which  companies  in  the  KION  Group  are  able  to  exercise  significant  influence,  either 
directly  or  indirectly,  over  the  financial  and  operating  policies  of  the  entity  concerned.  Significant  influence  is 
generally presumed to exist when KION Holding 1 GmbH holds between 20 per cent and 50 per cent of the voting 
rights. 

All other equity interests over which KION Holding 1 GmbH is unable to exercise control or a significant influence, 
or  that  are  not  jointly  controlled  by  KION  Holding  1  GmbH  are  classified  as  financial  investments  and  are  not 
consolidated. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 5 of 88 

The following table shows the number of equity investments broken down by category: 

Shareholdings by categories

Consolidated subsidiaries
  Domestic
  Foreign

At-equity investments in Joint Ventures and Associates 
  Domestic
  Foreign

Subsidiaries and financial investments
recorded at cost
  Domestic
  Foreign

1/1/2012

Addtions

Disposals

31/12/2012

93
17
76

11
7
4

70
16
54

9
2
7

1
1
− 

12
4
8

4
− 
4

2
− 
2

43
13
30

98
19
79

10
8
2

39
7
32

A total of 19 German and 79 foreign subsidiaries were consolidated in addition to KION Holding 1 GmbH as at 31 
December  2012.  Following  the  separation  of  financial  services  operations  into  separate  entities,  six  financial 
services companies were consolidated as part of the KION Group for the first time in January 2012 because they 
had become more financially significant (additions, consolidated subsidiaries). Previously, these companies had 
been reported at cost and are therefore reported as disposals of investments recorded at cost. In addition, a new 
company, KION South Asia Pte. Ltd., Singapore, Singapore, was founded in July 2012. Information about other 
acquisitions can be found in note [ 5 ] while information about disposals are provided in notes [ 6 ] and [ 13 ]. 

Ten  joint  ventures  and  associates  were  accounted  for  under  the  equity  method  as  at  31  December  2012  (31 
December 2011: eleven). In each case, measurement under the equity method was performed on the basis of the 
last  available  annual  financial  statements.  The  addition  relates  to  the  non-controlling  interest  held  in  Linde  Hy-
draulics GmbH & Co. KG. 

39  (2011:  70)  companies  with  minimal  business  volumes  or  no  business  operations  were  not  included  in  the 
consolidation. The unconsolidated subsidiaries and the associates not accounted for using the equity method are 
not  material  to  the  financial  position  and  financial  performance  of  the  KION  Group,  both  individually  and  as  a 
whole. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 6 of 88 

Where  other  requirements  are  met,  the  following  consolidated  companies  are  exempt  from  the  requirement  to 
prepare annual financial statements and management reports in accordance with sections 264 (3) and 264b HGB 
due to their inclusion in the consolidated financial statements: 

German entities exempted from disclosure requirements

Entities exempted 

KION Holding 2 GmbH
Klaus Pahlke GmbH & Co. Fördertechnik KG
Schrader Industriefahrzeuge GmbH & Co. KG
LMH Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG
LMH Immobilien Holding GmbH & Co. KG

Head office

Wiesbaden
Haan
Essen
Aschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg

A detailed overview of all the direct and indirect shareholdings of KION Holding 1 GmbH is shown in the list of 
shareholdings in the annex to these notes. 

[ 5 ] 

Acquisitions 

The KION Group acquired the business operations of the UK dealer Creighton on 28 February 2012, by acquiring 
100  per  cent  of  the  share  capital  and  voting  rights  in  Creighton  Materials  Handling  Ltd.,  Birmingham,  United 
Kingdom (registered office relocated to Basingstoke, United Kingdom, on 28 February 2012), which itself holds 51 
per cent of the share capital and voting rights in Linde Creighton Ltd., Basingstoke, United Kingdom. The KION 
Group already held the other 49 per cent of the share capital and voting rights in Linde Creighton Ltd. before the 
business  combination.  Creighton's  business  operations  include  an  investment  of  100  per  cent  in  McLEMAN 
FORK  LIFT  SERVICES  LTD.,  Basingstoke,  United  Kingdom.  The  acquisition  has  enabled  the  KION  Group  to 
further strengthen the leading position of the Linde brand and it's UK distribution and service network. 

The carrying amount of the equity-investment in Linde Creighton Ltd. immediately prior to the acquisition date was 
€3,635  thousand.  Remeasurement  of  the  previously  he ld  investment  (49  per  cent)  resulted  in  a  fair  value  of 
€11,387  thousand.  The  difference  of  €7,752  thousand
  (amount  on  the  acquisition  date)  was  recognised  in  the 
income statement and reported as profit from equity-investments. 

The acquisition-related costs of this business combination amounted to €60 thousand and have been reco gnised 
as  an  expense  for  the  current  period  and  recorded  in  Administrative  expenses  on  the  face  of  the  consolidated 
income statement.  
The  table  below  shows  the  overall  impact  of  this  acquisition  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  KION 
Holding 1 GmbH based on the final fair values on the acquisition-date. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 7 of 88 

Impact of the acquisition on the financial position of the KION Group

€ thousand

Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Deferred taxes (net)
Inventories
Trade receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Other assets

Total assets

Provisions
Liabilities
Deferred taxes (net)

Total liabilities

Total net assets

Cash payment
Fair value of the purchase price obligation

Consideration transferred

Previously held share of equity (49 per cent in Linde Creighton Ltd.)

Total

Fair value at the
acquisition date

15,794
5,017
5,437
1,025
4,029
8,036
2,149
5,131

46,618

7,907
15,472
0

23,379

23,239

11,852
0

11,852

11,387

23,239

The gross amounts of the receivables acquired as part of this transaction, which are exclusively trade receivables, 
totalled €8,183 thousand. At the acquisition date it
 was estimated that €147 thousand of these trade re ceivables 
were  irrecoverable.  Revenue  rose  by  €50,076 thousan d  as  a  result  of  the  acquisition.  The  net  income  (loss) 
reported for 2012 contains a profit of €1,382 thous and attributable to the entity acquired. If this business combina-
tion  had  been  completed  as  at  1  January  2012,  this  would  have  had  no  further  material  impact  on  either  the 
revenue or the net income (loss) reported by the KION Group for 2012. 

Goodwill represents the expected strategic and geographical synergies that the KION Group is able to derive from 
the business combination. The goodwill arising from this acquisition is currently not tax deductible. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 8 of 88 

[ 6 ] 

Disposal of subsidiaries 

With effect from 27 December 2012 the KION Group sold and deconsolidated its controlling interest of 70 per cent 
in Linde Hydraulics GmbH & Co. KG, Aschaffenburg (referred to below as Linde Hydraulics), to Weichai Power 
Co., Ltd., Weifang, China (referred to below as Weichai Power). 

Before the disposal, significant assets and liabilities of the former hydraulics business of the KION Group, includ-
ing land and buildings plus shares in the subsidiaries Linde Hydraulics Ltd., Abingdon, United Kingdom, and Linde 
Hydraulics Corporation, Canfield, USA, were transferred to Linde Hydraulics. As part of the transaction, Weichai 
Power granted the KION Group a put option on the remaining shares (30 per cent) in Linde Hydraulics. The KION 
Group also granted Weichai Power two call options relating to these shares. The put option, which is reported in 
other  financial  assets,  is  measured  at  fair  value.  The  call  options,  also  measured  at  fair  value,  are  reported  in 
other financial liabilities. 

Non-current  assets  of  €164,669  thousand,  current  as sets  of  €63,330  thousand,  cash  and  cash  equivalents   of 
€3,467  thousand,  non-current  liabilities  of  €68,414
  thousand  and  current  liabilities  of  €30,328  thousa nd  were 
derecognised as a result of the sale. 

The gain resulting from this sale (before tax) of € 138,276 thousand is the difference between the total considera-
tion received for the hydraulics business including the options (€271,000 thousand) and the carrying a mounts of 
the  assets  and  liabilities  disposed  of.  It  is  reported  on  the  face  of  the  consolidated  income  statement  as  other 
income. 

Linde Material Handling GmbH (referred to below as LMH GmbH) continues to hold the remaining 30 per cent of 
Linde  Hydraulics  which is included in  the scope of  consolidation  as  an at-equity  investment  on  a going-forward 
basis. It will be accounted for using the equity method. The gain from the remeasurement of the remaining shares 
at fair value amounts to €108,692 thousand and is a lso reported as other income.  

[ 7 ] 

Currency translation 

The financial statements in foreign currencies are translated in accordance with the functional currency concept 
(IAS  21  'The  Effects  of  Changes  in  Foreign  Exchange  Rates').  The  functional  currency  is  the  currency  of  the 
primary economic environment in which a company operates. The closing-rate method is used for currency trans-
lation.  
The  assets  and  liabilities of  foreign subsidiaries,  including goodwill,  are  translated at  the  middle  spot  exchange 
rate, i.e. at the average of the bid or offer rates on the reporting date. Income and expenses are translated at the 
average  rate  for  the  year. With  the  exception  of  income  and  expenses  recognised  as  other  comprehensive  in-
come (loss), equity is recognised at historical rates. The resulting translation differences are recognised in other 
comprehensive income (loss) until subsidiaries are disposed of.  

Transactions  of  the  consolidated  companies  in  foreign  currencies  are  translated  into  the  relevant  company's 
functional  currency  at  the  rate  prevailing  on  the  transaction  date.  On  the  reporting  date,  monetary  items  are 
translated  at  the  closing  rate  and  non-monetary  items  at  the  rate  prevailing  on  the  transaction  date.  Currency 
translation differences are recognised in the income statement as other income/expenses.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 9 of 88 

The following translation rates were used for currencies that are material to the financial statements: 

Major foreign currency rates in €

Australia (AUD)
Brazil (BRL)
Switzerland (CHF)
China (CNY)
United Kingdom (GBP)
Russia (RUB)
U.S.A. (USD)

[ 8 ] 

Accounting policies 

Average rate

Closing rate

2012

2011

2012

2011

1.2420
2.5114
1.2052
8.1138
0.8112
39.9190
1.2863

1.3480
2.3273
1.2327
9.0018
0.8680
40.8810
1.3929

1.2693
2.7033
1.2079
8.2218
0.8129
40.3252
1.3197

1.2683
2.4142
1.2154
8.1551
0.8343
41.7267
1.2957

The  consolidated  financial  statements  are  prepared  on  the  separate  financial  statements  of  the  parent  and  the 
consolidated subsidiaries, which are prepared in accordance with uniform KION Group accounting policies. 

In 2012 the long-term leasing business was separated from the short-term rentals and 'sale with risk' business as 
part  of  the  changes  in  the  management  structure  and  the  separation  of  the  financial  services  business.  To 
achieve consistency of presentation with segment reporting, this separation required reclassifications in the KION 
Group's consolidated statement of financial position. Industrial trucks used in short-term rentals and 'sale with risk' 
business were reclassified from 'leased assets' to 'rental assets', while industrial trucks used in long-term leasing 
business continue to be reported as 'leased assets'.  

In addition, procurement leasing was also separated from 'leased assets' and are reclassified to other property, 
plant and equipment as it is no longer considered to be part of leased assets under the new structure.  

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 10 of 88 

In connection with this reclassification, the corresponding liabilities are reported as other financial liabilities and no 
longer  as  lease  liabilities.  The  resulting  reclassifications  as  at  1  January  2011  and  31  December  2011  are  as 
follows: 

Assets and Liabilities

€ thousand

Assets
Leased assets
Rental assets
Other property, plant and equipment

Liabilities
Non-current lease liabilities
Other non-current financial liabilities
Current lease liabilities
Other current financial liabilities

€ thousand

Assets
Leased assets
Rental assets
Other property, plant and equipment

Liabilities
Non-current lease liabilities
Other non-current financial liabilities
Current lease liabilities
Other current financial liabilities

01.01.2011
 before
 reclassifications

reclassifications

01.01.2011
 after
 reclassifications

501,164
0
566,492

411,097
127,870
250,552
391,242

-345,039 
321,188
23,851

-132,283 
132,283
-80,623 
80,623

156,125
321,188
590,343

278,814
260,153
169,929
471,865

31.12.2011
 before
 reclassifications

reclassifications

31.12.2011
 after
 reclassifications

539,731
0
538,121

471,131
132,719
230,381
420,435

-372,377 
356,682
15,695

-171,070 
171,070
-83,653 
83,653

167,354
356,682
553,816

300,061
303,789
146,728
504,088

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 11 of 88 

Revenue recognition 

Revenue is the fair value received for the sale of products and services and lease income (excluding VAT) after 
deduction of trade discounts and rebates. In accordance with IAS 18, revenue is recognised when it is sufficiently 
probable that a future economic benefit will flow to the company and that it can be reliably measured. Additional 
criteria also apply, depending on each individual transaction, such as:  

Sale of goods 
With the exception of items classified as 'sale with risk', revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the 
KION Group delivers goods to a customer, the goods are accepted by the customer and the flow of benefits to the 
Group is considered to be probable. If a customer is expected to accept goods but has yet to do so, the corre-
sponding  revenue  is  only  recognised  when  the  goods  are  accepted.  Appropriate  provisions  are  recognised  for 
risks relating to the sale of goods. In the case of revenue from agreements classified as 'sale with risk', the reve-
nue is recognised pro rata over the term of the agreement if the risks and rewards remain substantially with the 
KION Group. The term 'sale with risk' and the corresponding revenue recognition are discussed in the following 
section and under 'Rental assets' below. 

Rendering of services  
Revenue from the rendering of services is recognised in the year in which the services are rendered. For services 
provided  over  several  periods,  revenue  is  recognised  in  accordance  with  the  proportion  of  the  total  services 
rendered  in  each period  (stage  of completion).  Revenue  from  long-term service  agreements is  therefore  recog-
nised  on  the  basis  of  the  average  term  of  the  service  agreements  and  in  line  with  the  progressive  cost  trends 
(constant margin). 

Revenue from financial service transactions is recognised in the amount of the sales value of the leased asset if 
classified as a finance lease and in the amount of the lease payments if classified as an operating lease. As part 
of the financial services provided by the Group, industrial trucks are also sold to finance partners who then enter 
into leases directly with the end customer (sale with risk). If significant risks and rewards remain with the KION 
Group as a result of an agreed residual value guarantee that accounts for more than 10 per cent of the asset's 
value or as a result of an agreed default guarantee, the proceeds from the sale are deferred and recognised as 
revenue on a straight-line basis over the term until the residual value guarantee or the default guarantee expires.  

Interest income and royalties  
Interest  income  is  recognised  pro  rata  temporis  in  accordance  with  the  effective  interest  method.  Income  from 
royalties is deferred in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreements and recognised pro rata tempo-
ris.  

Regarding the deferral of lease income, please refer to the accounting policies for leases.  

Cost of sales 

The  cost  of  sales comprises  the  cost  of  goods  and services  sold  and  includes directly  attributable  material  and 
labour costs as well as directly attributable overheads, including depreciation of production equipment and amor-
tisation of certain intangible assets, as well as write-downs of inventories. Cost of sales also includes additions to 
warranty provisions, which are recognised in the amount of the estimated cost at the date on which the related 
product is sold.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 12 of 88 

Government grants 

Government grants are recognised at fair value provided that the Group has satisfied the necessary conditions for 
receiving  the  grant.  Grants  not  related  to  capital  expenditures  are  recognised  in  the  income  statement,  under 
other  income,  in  the  period  in  which  the  expense  intended  to  be  covered  by  the  grant  is  incurred.  Grants  for 
capital expenditures are deducted from the cost of the asset concerned and result in a corresponding reduction in 
depreciation over the subsequent periods. 

Financial income and expenses 

Net  financial  income  mainly  consists  of  interest  expenses  on  financial  liabilities,  interest  income  from  financial 
receivables, gains and losses on financial instruments recognised through profit or loss, exchange rate gains and 
losses on financial activities and the interest expenses on pension provisions. The expected return on plan assets 
relating to pension provisions is also included in financial income. 

Interest income and expenses are recognised in profit and loss in accordance with the effective interest method. 
The effective interest method is used for calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset or financial liability and 
the allocation of interest income and interest expenses over the relevant periods. The effective interest rate is the 
interest rate at which the estimated future payments (including all fees that are part of the effective interest rate, 
transaction costs and other premiums and discounts) are discounted to the net carrying amount of the financial 
asset or liability over the expected term of the financial instrument. 

Dividends are recognised in income when a resolution on distribution has been passed. They are reported in the 
income statement under other financial income/expenses. 

Goodwill 

Goodwill has an indefinite useful life and is not amortised. Instead, it is tested for impairment in accordance with 
IAS 36 ('Impairment of Assets') at least once a year, and more frequently if there are indications that the asset 
might be impaired.  

Impairment testing is performed at the level of the individual cash-generating units (CGUs) or groups of CGUs. A 
CGU is defined as the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that 
are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. CGUs are generally based on 
the  lowest  level  of  an  entity  at  which  –  for  internal  management  purposes  –  the  management  systematically 
monitors and controls the contribution to earnings made by the assets concerned, including goodwill. However, a 
CGU  may  not  be  larger  than  an  operating  segment  as  defined  in  IFRS  8  'Operating  Segments'.  In  particular, 
CGUs are considered to be clearly defined and independent if the entity's management has prepared independ-
ent forecasts relevant to decision-making for the individual CGUs.  

For  the  purposes  of  internal  and  external  reporting,  the  activities  of  the  KION  Group  are  broken  down  into  the 
LMH,  STILL,  Financial  Services  and  Other  segments  on  the  basis  of  their  characteristics  and  risk  profile.  The 
2012 forecast, the budget for 2013, the medium-term planning for 2014 to 2015 and the KION Group's internal 
market forecasts for 2016 to 2017 were drawn up on the basis of this segment structure. 

The  relevant  CGUs  for  the  purposes  of  goodwill  impairment  testing  are  the  LMH  and  STILL  segments  and  the 
CGU Voltas Material Handling Private Limited, Pune, India (referred to below as VMH), which is part of the Other 
segment, as goodwill and brand names have been allocated to these CGUs. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 13 of 88 

The  recoverable  amount  of  a CGU  is  determined by  calculating  its  value in use on  the basis  of  the  discounted 
cash flow method. The cash flows used in calculating the operating cash flows are taken from financial forecasts 
approved by KION's management and are also used for internal management purposes. The cash flows forecast 
for the next five years are used for the impairment test. The financial forecasts are based on assumptions relating 
to  the  development  of  the  global  economy,  commodity  prices  and  exchange  rates.  The  budget  for  2013,  the 
medium-term planning for 2014 to 2015 and the KION Group's internal market forecasts for 2016 to 2017 were 
used  to  determine  the  cash  flows.  Cash  flows  beyond  the  five-year  planning  horizon  were  extrapolated  for  the 
CGUs LMH and STILL by using a growth rate of 1 per cent (2011: 1 per cent). A growth rate of 3 per cent (2011: 
2 per cent) was used for VMH to take into account of the forecasted trends for the high-growth market of India 
and the high level of inflation. 

CGU  cash  flows  are  discounted  using  a  weighted  average  cost  of  capital  (WACC)  that  reflects  current  market 
assessments of the specific risks of the CGUs. The underlying capital structure for the CGUs LMH and STILL is 
determined by comparing peer group companies in the same sector. The beta factor derived from the peer group 
was  1.08  (2011:  1.03).  Yield  curve  data  from  the  European  Central  Bank  as  at  31  October  2012  was  used  to 
determine a risk-free interest rate; this interest rate was 2.5 per cent (2011: 3.4 per cent). The market risk premi-
um derived from empirical studies of the capital markets was set at 6.0 per cent (2011: 5.5 per cent) and reflects 
the increased uncertainty currently observed in the capital markets. The country risk taken into consideration for 
the CGUs LMH and STILL was 0.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively (2011: 0.0 per cent respectively). The 
risk-adjusted cost of borrowing before tax was based on an interest rate of 4.4 per cent (2011: 5.3 per cent). A 
leverage ratio of 22.7 per cent (2011: 25.4 per cent) was calculated based on the capital structure determined for 
the peer group. 

To determine the country-specific WACC for VMH, a leveraged beta of 1.07 (2011: 1.10) was used, which was 
based  on  the  average  of  three  one-year  beta  factors.  An  interest  rate  of  8.7  per  cent  (2011:  7.3  per  cent)  was 
used as the risk-free interest rate for India as at 31 October 2012. The market risk premium is derived from empir-
ical data of the capital markets and was set at 6.0 per cent (2011: 5.5 per cent) and the country risk premium for 
India was set at 3.0 per cent (2011: 2.3 per cent). The risk-adjusted cost of borrowing before tax was determined 
to be 10.6 per cent (2011: 11.3 per cent). A leverage ratio of 22.7 per cent (2011: 25.4 per cent) was calculated 
for the peer group as at 31 October 2012. 

The pre-tax interest rate determined on the basis of these parameters and used to discount the estimated cash 
flows was 10.7 per cent for LMH (2011: 10.5 per cent), 11.0 per cent for STILL (2011: 10.4 per cent) and 21.5 per 
cent for VMH (2011: 14.6 per cent). The WACC after tax was 7.8 per cent for LMH (2011: 7.7 per cent), 8.0 per 
cent for STILL (2011: 7.7 per cent) and 15.8 per cent for VMH (2011: 11.0 per cent). 

The impairment test carried out as at 31 December 2012 did not reveal any need to recognise impairment losses 
for the existing goodwill of the LMH, STILL and VMH CGUs. Sensitivity analysis has enabled us to determine that 
no impairment losses need to be recognised for goodwill, even if key assumptions vary within realistic limits. 

Other intangible assets 

Other purchased intangible assets with a finite useful life are carried at cost less all accumulated amortisation and 
all accumulated impairment losses. If events or market developments suggest impairment has occurred, impair-
ment tests are carried out on the carrying amount of items classified as other intangible assets with a finite useful 
life. The carrying amount of an asset is compared with its recoverable amount, which is defined as the higher of 
its value in use and its fair value net of costs to sell. If the reasons for recognising impairment losses in the past 
no longer apply, impairment losses not exceeding the amortised cost of the assets are reversed.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 14 of 88 

Other intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are carried at cost and are mainly capitalised brand names. 
Brand  names  are  not  amortised  because  they  have  been  established  in  the  market  for  a  number  of  years  and 
there is no foreseeable end to their useful life. In accordance with IAS 36, they are tested for impairment at least 
once a year or whenever there are indications that the asset might be impaired. The impairment test is performed 
in the same way as the impairment test for goodwill. Assessments of indefinite useful life are carried out in every 
period. 

The brand name of VMH, which is allocated to the Other segment, is subject to a usage right with a contractually 
limited term and it will therefore be amortised over its useful life. 

Development costs are capitalised if the following can be demonstrated:  

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

the technical feasibility of the intangible asset; 
the intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it; 
the ability to use or sell the intangible asset; 
the extent to which the intangible asset is expected to generate future economic benefits; 
the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use 
or sell the intangible asset; and 
the ability to reliably measure the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development. 

Capitalised development costs include all costs and overheads directly attributable to the development process. 
Once  they  have  been  initially  capitalised,  these  costs  and  internally  generated  intangible  assets  –  particularly 
internally  generated  software  –  are  carried  at  cost  less  accumulated  amortisation  and  accumulated  impairment 
losses.  Internally  generated  intangible  assets  are  not  qualifying  assets  so  finance  costs  are  not  capitalised.  All 
development  costs  which  do  not  meet  the  recognition  criteria  are  expensed  as  incurred  and  reported  on  the 
income statement under research and development costs together with research costs and the amortisation on 
capitalised development costs. 

The following useful lives are applied in determining the carrying amounts of other intangible assets:  

Useful life of other intangible assets

Customer relationships/client base
Technology
Development costs
Patents and licences
Software

Leases/rental 

Years

10
10
5-7
3-15
3-8

KION Group companies lease equipment, mainly various industrial trucks, to their customers in order to promote 
sales. The leases may be of a short-term nature (short-term rental) or long-term nature (leasing).  

Companies in the KION Group enter into leases as lessors and as lessees. In line with IAS 17, these contracts 
are  classified  as  finance  leases  if  substantially  all  of  the  risks  and  rewards  incidental  to  ownership  of  the 
leased/rental asset are transferred to the lessee. All other leases and rental transactions are classified as operat-
ing leases, in accordance with IAS 17. 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 15 of 88 

If a KION Group company enters into a finance lease as the lessor, the future lease payments to be paid by the 
lessee are recognised as lease receivables at an amount equal to the net investment in the lease. Interest income 
is allocated to each reporting period in order to ensure a constant return on the outstanding net investment in the 
lease. 

Leased assets 

If the economic ownership of leased assets remains with a KION Group company as the lessor under an operat-
ing lease, the assets are reported as leased assets in a separate item on the face of the statement of financial 
position.  The  leased  assets  are  carried  at  cost  and  depreciated  over  the  term  of  the  underlying  leases.  Lease-
related income is recognised on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases.  

In  the  case  of  these  long-term  leases,  industrial  trucks  are  generally  sold  to  leasing  companies.  The  industrial 
trucks are then leased back to companies in the KION Group, who sub-lease them to customers (described below 
as 'sale-and-leaseback sub-leases'). Long-term leases generally have a term of four to five years. If, in the case 
of sale-and-leaseback sub-leases, the risks and rewards incidental to the head lease are substantially borne by 
KION Group companies, the corresponding assets are reported as non-current leased assets. If substantially the 
risks and rewards are transferred to the end customer, a corresponding lease receivable is recognised. Long-term 
customer leases are funded for terms that match those of the lease; funding items are recognised as lease liabili-
ties. 

Rental assets 

Rental assets are assets resulting from short-term rentals as well as industrial trucks in relation to which signifi-
cant risks and rewards remain with the KION Group despite having been sold ('sale with risk').  
In  the  case  of  short-term  rentals,  LMH  and  STILL  brand  companies  rent  industrial  trucks  to  customers  directly. 
Short-term  rental  agreements  usually  have  a  term  of  one  day  to  one  year.  The  significant  risks  and  rewards 
remain with the LMH and STILL brand companies. The industrial trucks are carried at cost and depreciated over 
their economic usefull lifes. Depending on the product group, the economic useful life is between five and seven 
years. 

As part of 'sale with risk' business, industrial trucks are sold to finance partners who then enter into leases with 
end  customers.  If  LMH  and  STILL  brand  companies  provide  material  residual  value  guarantees  or  a  customer 
default  guarantee,  these  transactions,  which  classify  as  sale  agreements  under  civil  law,  are  recognised  in  ac-
cordance  with  the  provisions  for  lessors  in  operating leases  and  the  IFRS  principles  for  revenue  recognition.  In 
this case, the trucks are recognised as assets in the statement of financial position at their cost on the date of the 
sale and depreciated to their guaranteed residual value, or zero, over the term of the lease between the finance 
partner and end customer. If the KION Group provides a residual value guarantee, an amount equivalent to the 
residual  value  obligation  is  recognised  under  other  financial  liabilities.  The  purchase  consideration  paid  by  the 
finance partner is recognised as deferred income and released to revenue on a pro rata basis over the term of the 
lease between the finance partner and the end customer. 

Other property, plant and equipment 

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less straight-line depreciation and impairment losses. The cost 
of internally generated machinery and equipment includes all costs directly attributable to the production process 
and  an  appropriate  portion  of  production  overheads.  This  includes  production-related  depreciation  and  propor-
tionate costs for administration and social insurance / employee benefits. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 16 of 88 

The cost of property, plant and equipment is reduced by the amount of any government grants received. Expens-
es for maintenance and repairs are recognised in income to the extent that they are not required to be capitalised. 
Borrowing costs are capitalised for certain items of property, plant and equipment whose acquisition or production 
exceeds  one  year  as  soon as  the  definition  of a  qualifying asset  is  met.  As  was  the case  in  the  previous  year, 
there were no qualifying assets in 2012.  

Depreciation  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  is  recognised  on  a  straight-line  basis  and  reported  in  functional 
costs. The useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed annually and adjusted to reflect changes in condi-
tions. 

The following useful lives are applied in determining the carrying amounts of items of property, plant and equip-
ment: 

Useful life of other property, plant and equipment

Buildings
Plant and machinery
Office furniture and equipment

Years

10-25
6-15
3-15

KION Group companies also lease property, plant and equipment for their own use using finance leases, which 
are recognised as other property, plant and equipment. In this case, the lower of the fair value and present value 
of  future  lease  payments  is  recognised  at  the  inception  of  the  lease.  A  corresponding  liability  to  the  lessor  is 
recognised under other financial liabilities in the statement of financial position.  

Property, plant and equipment covered by finance leases is depreciated over the shorter of its useful life or the 
term of the lease, unless title to the leased assets passes to the lessee when the lease expires, in which case the 
property, plant and equipment is depreciated and the other financial liabilities are reversed over the useful life of 
the leased assets. 

The difference between total finance lease liabilities and the fair value of the financed leased assets represents 
the finance charge which is recognised in the income statement over the term of the lease at a constant rate of 
interest  on  the  outstanding  balance  in  each  period.  At  the  end  of  the  lease  term,  the  leased  assets  are  either 
returned or purchased, or the contract is extended. 

If there are certain indications of impairment of the property, plant and equipment, the assets are tested for im-
pairment by comparing the residual carrying amount of the assets with their recoverable amount, which is defined 
as the higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell. If the residual carrying amount is greater than the 
recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognised for an asset.  

The KION Group calculates the recoverable amount primarily on the basis of value in use. In determining value in 
use,  the  expected  future  cash  flows  are  discounted  using  a  risk-adjusted  discount  rate,  taking  into  account  the 
current and future level of earnings and segment-specific, technological, economic and general trends. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 17 of 88 

If an impairment test for an item of property, plant and equipment is performed at the level of a cash-generating 
unit  to  which  goodwill  is  allocated  and  results  in  the  recognition  of  an  impairment  loss,  first  the  goodwill  and, 
subsequently, the assets must be written down in proportion to their relative carrying amounts. If the reason for an 
impairment loss recognised in prior years no longer exists, impairment losses not exceeding the amortised cost of 
the asset concerned are reversed. This does not apply to goodwill. 

Equity-accounted investments 

In accordance with the equity method, associates and joint ventures are measured as the proportion of the inter-
est in the equity of the investee. They are initially carried at cost. In subsequent periods, the KION Group's inter-
est in the profit or loss generated after acquisition is recognised in income. Other changes in the equity of associ-
ates and joint ventures are recognised in other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated financial state-
ments in proportion to the Group's interest in the associate or joint venture.  

If  the  Group's  interest  in  the  losses  made  by  an  associate  or  joint  venture  exceeds  the  carrying  amount  of  the 
proportionate equity attributable to the Group, no additional losses are recognised. Any goodwill arising from the 
acquisition of an associate or joint venture is included in the carrying amount of the investment in the associate or 
joint venture. When an associate or joint venture is sold, the Group's interest in its goodwill is taken into account 
in determining the proceeds on disposal. 

If there is evidence that an associate or joint venture may be impaired, the carrying amount of the investment is 
tested for impairment.  

Income taxes 

In the consolidated financial statements, current and deferred taxes are recognised on the basis of the tax laws of 
the  relevant  jurisdictions.  Deferred  taxes  are  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  if  they  relate  to 
transactions also recognised in other comprehensive income (loss). 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised in accordance with the liability method for all temporary differ-
ences between the IFRS carrying amounts and the tax base, as well as for temporary differences resulting from 
consolidation measures. 

Deferred  tax  assets  also  include  tax  refund  claims  that  arise  from  the  expected  utilisation  of  existing  tax  loss 
carryforwards and interest carryforwards in subsequent years and whose utilisation is reasonably certain accord-
ing  to  current  forecasts.  On  the  basis  of  this  estimate,  deferred  tax  assets  were  recognised  on  some  interest 
carryforwards for the first time in 2011. 

Deferred taxes are determined on the basis of the tax rates that will apply or are expected to apply at the realisa-
tion date in accordance with the current legal situation in each country concerned. In accordance with the provi-
sions in IAS 12, deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted. 

Deferred tax assets are offset against deferred tax liabilities to the extent that they have the same maturity and 
relate to the same taxation authority. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 18 of 88 

Inventories 

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost and net realisable value.  

The acquisition costs of raw materials and merchandise are calculated on the basis of an average. 

The cost of finished goods and work in progress includes direct costs and an appropriate portion of the material 
and  production  overheads  and  production-related  depreciation  directly  attributable  to  the  production  process. 
Administrative costs and social insurance / employee benefits are included to the extent that they are attributable 
to  the  production  process.  Borrowing  costs  as  defined  by  IAS  23  are  not  a  component  of  cost  as  they  are  not 
qualifying assets as defined by IAS 23.4. The amount recognised is an average value or a value determined in 
accordance with the FIFO method. 

Net realisable value is the selling price that can be realised less the estimated costs of completion and the esti-
mated selling costs. 

Write-downs  are  recognised  for  inventory  risks  resulting  from  duration  of  storage,  impaired  recoverability,  etc. 
Write-downs are reversed up to a maximum of cost if the reasons for their recognition no longer apply. 

Trade receivables  

In the first period in which they are recognised, trade receivables ('LaR') are carried at fair value including directly 
attributable  transaction  costs.  In  subsequent  periods  they  are  measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective 
interest method. Appropriate valuation allowances are recognised for identifiable individual risks. Low-interest or 
non-interest-bearing receivables due in more than one year are carried at their present value.  

Other financial assets  

The investments in non-consolidated affiliated companies and (long-term) equity investments that are reported in 
other  non-current  financial  assets  are  carried  at  cost  less  impairment  losses,  as  observable  fair  values  are  not 
available and reliable results cannot be obtained using other permitted measurement techniques. At present there 
is  no intention  to sell  these  financial instruments.  At  each  reporting  date,  financial  assets  or  groups  of  financial 
assets are tested for impairment. Impairment losses are recognised in income as appropriate.  

Primary financial assets are initially recognised and derecognised in the financial statements on their settlement 
dates.  

Under  IAS  39  ('Financial  Instruments:  Recognition  and  Measurement'),  securities  allocated  to  current  or  non-
current  financial  assets  are  classified  according  to  those  carried  at  fair  value  through  profit  and  loss  (FAHfT), 
available for sale (AfS) and held to maturity (HtM). 

The KION Group did not designate any securities as carried at fair value through profit and loss (FAHfT) in the 
reporting year. The FAHfT category therefore only includes derivative financial instruments that do not form part 
of a formally documented hedge relationship. 

Available-for-sale financial instruments (AfS) are carried at fair value. If they are equity investments for which no 
market  price  is  available,  they  are  carried  at  cost.  Unrealised  gains  and  losses,  including  deferred  taxes,  are 
reported in other comprehensive income (loss) until they are realised.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 19 of 88 

In  the  first  period  they  are  recognised,  other  financial  assets  which  are  categorised  as  loans  and  receivables 
('LaR')  are  carried  at  fair  value  including  directly  attributable  transaction  costs.  In  subsequent  periods  they  are 
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Appropriate valuation allowances are recognised 
for  identifiable  individual  risks.  Low-interest  or  non-interest-bearing  receivables  due  in  more  than  one  year  are 
carried at their present value.  

Carrying  amounts  are  tested  for  impairment  on  every  reporting  date  and  whenever  indications  of  impairment 
arise. If there is an objective indication of impairment (such as a borrower being in significant financial difficulties), 
an impairment loss must be recognised directly in the income statement.  

If objective facts in favour of reversing impairment losses are present on the reporting date, reversals are recog-
nised  to  an  appropriate  extent.  Reversals  may  not  exceed the  amortised cost  that  would  have  arisen  if  the  im-
pairment loss had not been recognised. In the case of debt instruments classified as available-for-sale financial 
assets, reversals of impairment losses are recognised in the income statement. 

Held  to  maturity  financial  assets  are  carried  at  amortised  cost  less  impairment  losses  in  accordance  with  the 
effective interest method. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 20 of 88 

Derivative financial instruments  

Derivative financial instruments are measured at their fair value and are reported as financial assets or financial 
liabilities as at the reporting date. 

Derivative financial instruments in the KION Group comprise currency forwards and interest-rate swaps and are 
used  for  hedging  purposes  to  mitigate  exchange-rate  and  interest-rate  risks.  In  addition,  the  options  on  the  re-
maining shares in Linde Hydraulics are reported as derivative financial instruments (see note [ 6 ]). 

In accordance with IAS 39 (Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement), all derivative financial instru-
ments are measured at their fair value irrespective of an entity's purpose or intention in entering into the derivative 
contract. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments in a formally documented hedge are report-
ed in the income statement (for fair value hedges) or in other comprehensive income (loss) (for cash flow hedg-
es).  

The KION Group currently only uses cash flow hedges for exchange-rate and interest-rate risks.  

In  the  case  of  cash  flow  hedges,  derivatives  are  used  to  hedge  future  cash  flow  risks  from  existing  underlying 
transactions  or  planned  transactions.  The  effective  portion  of  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  derivatives  is  initially 
recognised in other comprehensive income (loss), and is subsequently reclassified to the income statement when 
the revenue from the corresponding underlying transaction is realised. The ineffective portion of the changes in 
fair value is recognised immediately in net financial income/expenses.  

If the criteria for hedge accounting are not met, changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are 
recognised in the income statement.  

In the case of hedges of net investments in foreign subsidiaries, the translation risks resulting from investments 
with a different functional currency are hedged. Unrealised gains and losses on hedging instruments are reported 
in other comprehensive income (loss) until the company is sold. In the past financial year, KION Group compa-
nies have not entered into any hedges for net investments in foreign subsidiaries.  

Further information on risk management and accounting for derivative financial instruments can be found in note [ 
36 ]. 

Retirement benefit obligation 

The retirement benefit obligation is calculated in accordance with the projected unit credit method. Future pension 
obligations  are  measured  on  the  basis  of  the  pro  rata  vested  benefit  entitlements  as  at  the  reporting  date  and 
discounted to their present value. The calculations include assumptions about future changes in certain parame-
ters, such as expected salary and pension increases and biometric factors affecting the amount of future benefits. 
Pension provisions are reduced by the fair value of the plan assets used to cover the Group's benefit obligations. 
Plan assets are measured at fair value. 

Actuarial gains and losses, including deferred taxes, are recognised in other comprehensive income (loss). The 
cost of additions to pension provisions is allocated to functional costs. The interest cost on pension obligations 
and the expected return on plan assets are reported in net financial income/expenses. Further details can be 
found in note [ 29 ]. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 21 of 88 

Other provisions 

Other  provisions  are  recognised  when  the  Group  has  a  legal  or  constructive  obligation  to  a  third  party  as  the 
result of a past event that is probable to result in a future outflow of resources and that can be reliably estimated. 
A provision is recognised in the amount of the mean of the range of probabilities. Measurement is at full cost. 

Provisions  for  identifiable  risks  and  contingent  liabilities  are  recognised  in  the  amount  that  represents  the  best 
estimate of the cost required to settle the obligations. Recourse claims are not taken into account. The settlement 
amount also includes cost increases identifiable as at the reporting date. Provisions with a maturity of more than 
twelve months are discounted using the standard market interest rate. The discount rate is a before-tax rate that 
reflects  current  market  expectations  for  the  time  value  of  money  and  the  specific  risks  inherent  in  the  liability. 
Accrued interest is recognised in interest expenses.  

Warranty provisions are recognised on the basis of past or estimated future claim statistics. Individual provisions 
are recognised for claims that are known to the Group. The corresponding expense is recognised in cost of sales 
at the date on which the revenue is recognised. 

Provisions for expected losses from onerous contracts and other business obligations are measured on the basis 
of the work yet to be performed. 

A restructuring provision is recognised when a KION Group company has prepared a detailed, formal restructur-
ing plan and this plan has raised a valid expectation in those affected that the company will carry out the restruc-
turing by starting to implement that plan or announcing its main features to those affected by it. The measurement 
of a restructuring provision only includes the direct expenditures arising from the restructuring and not associated 
with the ongoing activities of the company concerned. 

Shareholder loan, financial liabilities, other financial liabilities, trade payables 

These liabilities are initially recognised at fair value at the time they are entered into. Directly attributable transac-
tion  costs  are  deducted  for  all  financial  liabilities  that  are  not  subsequently  designated  as  at  fair  value  through 
profit or loss. 

The  shareholder  loan,  non-current  financial  liabilities  and  other  financial  liabilities  are  then  carried  at  amortised 
cost. Any differences between historical cost and the settlement amount are recognised in accordance with the 
effective interest method.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 22 of 88 

Assumptions and estimates 

The preparation of the IFRS consolidated financial statements requires the use of assumptions and estimates for 
certain line items that affect recognition and measurement in the statement of financial position and the income 
statement.  The  actual  amounts  realised  may  differ  from  estimates.  Assumptions  and  estimates  are  applied  in 
particular: 

• 

• 
• 
• 

• 

in  assessing  the  need  for  and  the  amount  of  impairment  losses  on  intangible  assets,  property,  plant  and 
equipment and inventories 
in determining the useful life of non-current assets 
in classifying leases 
to  the  recognition  and  measurement  of  defined  benefit  pension  obligations,  provisions  for  tax,  and  other 
provisions and 
in assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets. 

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually at the level of the cash-generating units to which goodwill is allocated, 
applying the budget for 2013 and the medium-term planning for 2014 to 2015 combined with the growth predicted 
in the market forecasts for 2016 to 2017 and assuming division-specific growth rates for the period thereafter. Any 
material  changes  to  these  factors  might  result  in  the  recognition  of  impairment  losses.  Further  information  on 
goodwill can be found in note [ 18 ]. 

Information on leases can be found in the sections on leases/rental, leased assets, rental assets and other prop-
erty, plant and equipment in this note. 

Defined  benefit  pension  obligations  are  calculated  on  the  basis  of  actuarial  parameters.  As  differences  due  to 
actuarial gains and losses are recognised in other comprehensive income (loss), any change in these parameters 
would not affect the net profit for the current period. For further details about sensitivity analysis of the impact of 
certain assumptions, please refer to the information about the retirement benefit obligation in note [ 29 ]. 

Significant estimates are involved in calculating provisions for tax. These estimates may change on the basis of 
new information and experience (see also note [ 16 ]). Where necessary, the KION Group's accounting depart-
ments receive assistance from external legal advisers and tax consultants when making the estimates required.  

The recognition and measurement of other provisions is based on an estimate taking into consideration the prob-
ability of the future outflow of resources, past experience and the circumstances known to the Group at the report-
ing date. Accordingly, the actual outflow of resources for a given event may be different from the amount recog-
nised in other provisions. Further details can be found in note [ 32 ]. 

Deferred tax assets on tax loss carryforwards and interest carryforwards are recognised on the basis of an esti-
mate of the future recoverability of the tax benefit, i.e. an assumption as to whether sufficient taxable income or 
tax relief will be available against which the carryforwards can be utilised. The actual amount of taxable income in 
future periods, and hence the actual utilisation of tax loss carryforwards and interest carryforwards, may be differ-
ent from the estimates made when the corresponding deferred tax assets were recognised. 

Changes are recognised in profit or loss when they become known and assumptions are adjusted accordingly. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 23 of 88 

Notes to the consolidated income statement 

[ 9 ] 

Revenue 

The  revenue  generated  by  the  KION  Group  in  the  year  under  review  is  comprised  of  the  following  by  product 
category: 

Revenue by product category

€ thousand

New business
Hydraulics
Service offering
  - After sales
  - Rental business
  - Used trucks
  - Other

Total revenue

Further information on revenue can be found in note [ 39 ] Segment report. 

[ 10 ]  Other income  

Other income is comprised of the following: 

Other income

€ thousand

Net gains on the Weichai transactions
Foreign currency exchange rate gains
Profit from release of deferred lease profits
Income from reversal of provisions
Remeasurement of purchase price obligations
Gains on disposal of non-current assets
Rental income
Sundry income

Total other income

2012

2011

2,651,483
167,771
1,907,410
1,149,791
427,610
212,974
117,035

2,364,235
172,662
1,831,498
1,065,731
441,152
218,982
105,633

4,726,664

4,368,395

2012

2011

211,763
18,926
10,593
5,196
4,557
4,045
2,677
36,617

294,374

− 
22,600
6,886
6,638
11,971
1,381
2,155
29,872

81,503

Net gains on the Weichai transactions relate to the gain of €138,276 thousand from the disposal of the  (indirect) 
controlling interest of 70 per cent in Linde Hydraulics (see also note [ 6 ]). Costs incurred in connection with the 
sale amounting to €35,205 thousand are also reporte d under net gains on the Weichai transactions.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 24 of 88 

In addition, the net gains on the Weichai transactions also include the gain arising from the remeasurement of the 
remaining shares (30 per cent) in Linde Hydraulics at fair value in the amount of €108,692 thousand. 

The foreign currency exchange rate gains and losses result from the measurement of financial receivables and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currency and the measurement of corresponding derivatives. The foreign curren-
cy  exchange  rate  gains  include  gains  amounting  to  € 9,670  thousand  (2011:  €11,354  thousand)  on  derivati ve 
financial  instruments  used  to  hedge  operating  exchange-rate  risk.  These  gains  were  offset  by  foreign  currency 
exchange  rate  losses  (other  expenses)  of  €5,101  tho usand in  2012  (2011:  €11,542  thousand).  Overall,  th is  re-
sulted in a net gain of €4,569 thousand (2011: net 

loss of €188 thousand). 

The remeasurement of purchase price obligations relates to the shares acquired in Linde Creighton Ltd., Basing-
stoke, United Kingdom in 2012. This gain results from the significantly improved market environment and a corre-
sponding increase in the value of the investment (see also note [ 5 ]). 

[ 11 ]  Other expenses 

The breakdown of other expenses is as follows: 

Other expenses

€ thousand

Foreign currency exchange rate losses
Impairment of non-current assets
Losses on disposal of non-current assets
Sundry expenses

Total other expenses

2012

2011

23,277
21,134
3,334
11,785

59,530

19,467
27,032
7,963
15,581

70,043

The change in foreign currency exchange rate gains and losses is attributable to exchange rate movements (see 
also  note  [  10  ]).  Overall,  there  was  a  net  gain  of  €4,569 thousand  on  derivative  financial  instrument s  used  to 
hedge operating exchange-rate risk (2011: net loss of €188 thousand).  

The  impairment  recognised  on  non-current assets  in  the  reporting  year comprised  impairment  losses  of  € 4,825 
thousand  on  intangible  assets  (2011: €10,261  thousa nd)  and  impairment  losses  of  €16,309 thousand  on  ot her 
property, plant and equipment (2011: €16,771 thousa nd). It was largely caused by the planned closure of produc-
tion sites.  

[ 12 ]  Profit from at-equity investments  

Profit  from  equity-accounted  investments  amounted  to  €15,912 thousand  in  the  reporting  year  (2011: 
8,015  thousand  (average  price)  arising  from  the  remeas-
€11,192 thousand).  This  amount  includes  income  of  €
urement  of  an  existing  equity-accounted  investment  of  49  per  cent  held  in  Linde  Creighton  Ltd.,  Basingstoke, 
United  Kingdom,  over  which  a  controlling  influence  can  be  exerted  following  the  acquisition  of  the  remaining 
shares (see note [ 5 ]). Further details on equity-accounted investments can be found in note [ 22 ]. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 25 of 88 

[ 13 ]  Other financial result  

Other financial result is essentially comprised of income from equity investments (€2,197 thousand) an d gains on 
the  disposal  of  equity  investments  (€427  thousand).
  These  gains  on  the  disposal  of  equity  investments  largely 
resulted from the gain of €298 thousand on the disp osal of the 80 per cent controlling interest in TPZ Linde Vilicari 
Hrvatska d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia, in February 2012. 

[ 14 ]  Financial income  

Financial income is comprised of the following: 

Financial income

€ thousand

Return on pension plan assets
Interest income from leases
Foreign currency exchange rate gains (financing)
Other interests and similar income

Total financial income

2012

2011

22,731
22,451
12,108
4,794

62,084

22,732
24,414
23,149
3,369

73,664

The return on pension plan assets item shows the expected return on plan assets used to cover pension obliga-
tions. 

The interest income from leases relates to the interest portion of lease payments in financial services transactions 
in which KION Group companies operate as lessors (finance leases).  

Gains on foreign exchange rate differences – financing – include gains of €9,142 thousand on the trans lation of a 
foreign-currency loan denominated in US dollars (2011: €19,022 thousand) and a gain of €75 thousand on 
hedg-
ing transactions (2011: €22,883 thousand).  

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 26 of 88 

[ 15 ]  Financial expense 

The financial expense is comprised of the following: 

Financial expense

€ thousand

Interest expense from loans
Interest cost of defined benefit obligation
Interest cost of leases
Interest expense from corporate bond
Interest cost of shareholder loan
Amortisation of finance costs
Foreign currency exchange rate losses (financing)
Interest cost of non-current financial liabilities
Other interest expenses and similar charges

Total financial expense

2012

2011

121,100
43,809
39,636
34,458
27,653
11,422
7,632
2,192
13,667

135,737
42,436
37,738
25,395
27,882
11,359
52,264
2,574
10,324

301,569

345,709

Interest expenses include interest costs of €101,23 9 thousand arising from variable-rate loan liabilities under the 
senior  facilities  agreement  (2011:  €117,273  thousan d)  and  losses  of  €19,861 thousand  on  interest-rate  swaps 
(2011: €18,464 thousand). 

The interest cost of the defined benefit obligation is the annual interest expense in connection with the unwinding 
of the discount on non-current pension obligations. 

The interest cost of leases relates to the interest portion of lease payments in financial services transactions in 
which the material risks and rewards are borne by KION Group companies as the lessee (finance leases). Sale-
finance  leaseback-operating  sub-leases  (SALB-FL-OL)  incurred  interest  expenses  of  €20,719 thousand  (2011 : 
€19,587 thousand). These interest expenses were not
 directly offset by any interest income. The corresponding 
income reported within revenue as lease payments received. 

The  foreign  currency  exchange  rate  losses  –  financing  –  include  losses  on  derivative  financial  instruments 
d). 
amounting to €7,588 thousand (2011: €31,843 thousan

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 27 of 88 

[ 16 ] 

Income taxes  

income 

tax  expense  of 

The 
€122,137 thousand  in  current  tax  expense  (2011:  €49
,349 thousand)  and  €27,403 thousand  in  deferred  tax  
expense  (2011:  deferred  tax  income  of  €15,308 thous and).  The  current  tax  expense  includes  expenses  of 
€8,820 thousand (2011: expenses of €2,602 thousand)

 relating to previous financial years.  

€34,041 thousand)  consisted  of 

€149,540 thousand  (2011: 

expense  of 

At  the  reporting  date  there  were  income  tax  receivables  due  from  tax  authorities  of  €5,501 thousand  (20 11: 
€4,953 thousand) and income tax liabilities of €84, 958 thousand (2011: €15,439 thousand).  

Deferred taxes are recognised for temporary differences between the tax base and the carrying amounts under 
IFRS. Deferred taxes are determined on the basis of the tax rates that will apply or are expected to apply at the 
realisation date in accordance with the current legal situation in each country concerned. The current corporate 
income tax rate in Germany is 15.0 per cent. Taking into account the average trade tax rate of 14.11 per cent and 
the solidarity surcharge (5.5 per cent of corporate income tax), the combined tax rate for companies in Germany 
remained at 29.9 per cent. The income tax rates for foreign companies used in the calculation of deferred taxes 
are between 10.0 per cent and 38.1 per cent (2011: 10.0 per cent and 38.5 per cent). 

No deferred taxes have been recognised on differences of €96,090 thousand (2011: €100,146 thousand) be
tween 
the  IFRS  carrying  amounts  and  the  tax  base  of  the  investments  (outside  basis  differences)  because  the  KION 
Group is in a position to manage the timing of the reversal of temporary differences and there are no plans to sell 
the investments in the foreseeable future. 

Deferred tax assets are allocated to the following items in the statement of financial position: 

Deferred tax assets 

€ thousand

Intangible assets and property, plant and equipment
Financial assets
Current assets
Deferred charges and prepaid expenses
Provisions
Liabilities
Deferred income
Tax loss carryforwards and interest carryforwards
Offsetting

Total deferred tax assets

2012

2011

107,051
4,141
33,832
8,622
121,478
250,973
46,428
31,795
-339,346 

86,789
1
34,697
6,065
101,669
200,678
46,386
70,230
-284,552 

264,974

261,963

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 28 of 88 

Deferred tax liabilities are allocated to the following items in the statement of financial position: 

Deferred tax liabilities 

€ thousand

Intangible assets and property, plant and equipment
Financial assets
Current assets
Deferred charges and prepaid expenses
Provisions
Liabilities
Deferred income
Offsetting

Total deferred tax liabilities

2012

2011

452,436
3,259
150,410
398
23,706
15,361
2,597
-339,346 

456,138
3,139
113,340
8,588
29,838
9,749
2,814
-284,552 

308,821

339,054

The deferred tax liabilities essentially relate to the purchase price allocation as a result of the acquisition of KION 
Group, particularly for intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. 

Deferred  tax  assets  amounting  to  €233,162 thousand 
because due  to  the current  tax  structure  it  is  unlikely  that  the  corresponding  benefit  can be  utilised  despite  the 
improved 
loss  carryforwards  of 
€108,630 thousand  (2011:  €91,636 thousand),  interes
t  carryforwards  of  €123,952 thousand  (2011:  €116,06 0 
thousand) and other temporary differences of €580 t housand (2011: €3,702 thousand).  

(2011:  €211,398 thousand)  have  not  been  recognised 

income  situation.  Unrecognised  deferred 

tax  assets 

relate 

tax 

to 

Deferred  taxes  on  tax  loss  carryforwards  and  interest  carryforwards  are  recognised  to  the  extent  that  sufficient 
future  taxable  income  is  expected  to  be  generated  against  which  the  losses  can  be  utilised.  The  deferred  tax 
assets recognised on interest carryforwards in 2011 were utilised in the year under review. No deferred taxes on 
interest carryforwards had been recognised as at 31 December 2012. The total amount of unrecognised deferred 
tax assets relating to loss carryforwards of €108,6 30 thousand (2011: €91,636 thousand) concerns tax l osses that 
can be carried forward indefinitely. 

The KION Group's tax loss carryforwards in Germany as at 31 December 2012 amounted to €289,786 thousand  
(31 December 2011: €381,941 thousand) for corporate  income tax and €270,800 thousand (31 December 2011 : 
€263,525 thousand) for trade tax. There were also f oreign tax loss carryforwards totalling €190,476 th ousand (31 
December 2011: €187,438 thousand). 

The  interest  that  can  be  carried  forward  for  an  indefinite  period  of  time  in  Germany  amounted  to 
€463,461 thousand as at 31 December 2012 (31 Decemb er 2011: €464,939 thousand). 

The table below shows the reconciliation of expected income tax expense to effective income tax expense. The 
Group reconciliation is an aggregation of the individual company-specific reconciliations prepared in accordance 
with relevant local tax rates, taking into account consolidation effects recognised in income. The expected tax rate 
applied in the reconciliation is 29.9 per cent (2011: 29.8 per cent). 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 29 of 88 

Income taxes 

€ thousand

Earnings before taxes

Anticipated income taxes
Deviations due to the trade tax base
Deviations from the anticipated tax rate
Change in valuation allowance on deferred taxes
Losses for which deferred taxes have not been recognised
Change in tax rates and tax legislation
Interest carryforwards for which deferred taxes have not been recognised
Non-deductible expenses
Tax-exempt income
Tax relating to other periods
Deferred taxes prior periods
Other

Effective income taxes (current and deferred taxes)

2012

2011

310,628

-58,885

-93,002
-3,882
-322
-623
-19,972
-1,473
-7,113
-20,244
20,924
-8,820
-11,168
-3,845

-149,540

17,548
-3,087
13,560
-9,765
-17,372
-1,404
-31,786
-8,556
1,903
-2,602
5,001
2,519

-34,041

Tax-exempt income includes €17,410 thousand of tax- exempt income in connection with the transfer of significant 
parts of the former hydraulics business of LMH GmbH to Linde Hydraulics. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 30 of 88 

[ 17 ] 

Other income statement disclosures  

The  cost  of  materials  declined  by  €64,085 thousand 
€2,244,069 thousand). 

in  the  reporting  year  to  €2,179,984 thousand  (2011:  

Personnel  expenses  increased  by  €138,999 thousand  in   2012  to  €1,202,725 thousand  (2011:  €1,063,726  thou
-
sand). Personnel expenses include wages and salaries of €946,574 thousand (2011: €833,585 thousand) as  well 
as  social  security  contributions  and  expenses  for  pensions  and  other  benefits  of  €256,151 thousand  (20 11: 
€230,141 thousand). The interest cost from the unwi nding of the discount on estimated pension obligations is not 
recognised under personnel expenses and is instead reported under financial expense as a component of interest 
cost  of  the  defined  benefit  obligation.  The  pension  expense  of  €33,688 thousand  (2011:  €29,741 thousan d)  is 
essentially comprised of the pension entitlements of €16,243 thousand vested in 2012 (2011: €16,242 th ousand) 
and the unrecognised past service cost of €399 thou sand (2011: €177 thousand). 

Impairment losses and depreciation expenses on property, plant and equipment together with impairment losses 
and  amortisation  expenses  on  intangible  assets  amounted  to  €365,269 thousand  in  the  reporting  year  (20 11: 
€356,021 thousand). Inventories were written down b y €8,167 thousand (2011: €6,179 thousand).  

The breakdown of lease and rental payments expensed in the period and related to operating leases where KION 
Group companies are lessees is as follows: 

Lessee: Expenses recognised for operating lease payments

€ thousand

Procurement lease contracts
Sublease contracts 

Total recognised expenses for lease payments

2012

2011

80,454
18,983

99,437

67,043
38,181

105,224

The expenses in connection with sub-leases relate to leases and rental agreements in which KION Group com-
panies are both lessors and lessees. These expenses were offset by income of €53,639 thousand in 2012  (2011: 
€51,072 thousand). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 31 of 88 

Notes to the consolidated statement of financial position 

[ 18 ]  Goodwill and other intangible assets 

Goodwill is allocated to the segments as follows: 

Goodwill broken down by segment  

€ thousand

LMH
STILL
Other

Total goodwill

2012

2011

907,835
552,208
13,202

971,873
552,208
13,915

1,473,245

1,537,996

The  change  in  goodwill  was  the  result  of  the  disposal  of  goodwill  amounting  to  €80,700 thousand  in  the   LMH 
segment in connection with the sale of the controlling interest (70 per cent) in Linde Hydraulics. In addition, good-
will of €16,306 thousand arose from the acquisition  of the UK dealer Creighton. It was allocated to the LMH seg-
ment.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 32 of 88 

Intangible assets  

€ thousand

Goodwill

Technology 
& 
development

Brand 
names

Sundry 
intangible 
assets

Total

Balance as at 1/1/2011

1,507,010

591,018

261,194

134,198

2,493,420

Group changes
Currency translation adjustments
Additions
Disposals
Amortisation
Impairment
Reclassification

31,535
150
0
-699
0
0
0

2,982
524
99
0
-244
0
0

0
-14
53,363
-1
-52,544
-10,236
-39

7,634
225
16,755
-163
-27,359
-25
188

42,151
885
70,217
-863
-80,147
-10,261
149

Balance as at 31/12/2011

1,537,996

594,379

251,723

131,453

2,515,551

Gross carrying amount as at 31/12/2011
Accumulated amortisation

1,537,996
0

594,609
-230

449,864
-198,141

236,275
-104,822

2,818,744
-303,193

Balance as at 1/1/2012

1,537,996

594,379

251,723

131,453

2,515,551

Group changes
Currency translation adjustments
Additions
Disposals
Amortisation
Impairment
Reclassification

16,306
-542
185
-80,700
0
0
0

0
-85
0
0
-346
0
0

0
366
51,247
-25,094
-55,527
-4,758
-65

4,691
230
18,923
-3,433
-29,828
-67
152

20,997
-31
70,355
-109,227
-85,701
-4,825
87

Balance as at 31/12/2012

1,473,245

593,948

217,892

122,121

2,407,206

Gross carrying amount as at 31/12/2012
Accumulated amortisation

1,473,245
0

594,494
-546

426,727
-208,835

232,942
-110,821

2,727,408
-320,202

The  Group  intends  to  retain  and  further  strengthen  the  Linde,  STILL,  OM-STILL  and  KION  brand  names  on  a 
long-term basis. Brand names worth €473,755 thousand  (31 December 2011: €473,782 thousand) are assigned  
to the LMH segment. The value of brand names allocated to the STILL segment was unchanged year on year at 
€114,000 thousand. These assets are not amortised a s they have an indefinite useful life. An amount of €1,830 
thousand had been allocated to the Voltas brand name and is reported in the 'Other' segment in 2011 as part of 
the purchase price allocation. Unlike the other brand names, the Voltas brand name is amortised over its useful 
life. As at 31 December 2012 the brand names allocated to the 'Other' segment had a carrying amount of €6,193 
thousand (31 December 2011: €6,597 thousand).  

for 

total  carrying  amount 

technology  and  development  assets  as  at  31  December 2012  was 

The 
€217,892 thousand  (31  December 2011:  €251,723  thous and).  Development  costs  of  €51,247 thousand  were 
capitalised  in  the  reporting  year  (2011:  €53,363 th ousand).  Total  research  and  development  costs  of 
€124,454 thousand  (2011:  €119,526 thousand)  were  ex pensed.  Of  this  amount,  €60,285 thousand  (2011: 
€62,780 thousand) related to amortisation and impai rment losses.    

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 33 of 88 

Impairment losses of €4,825 thousand were recognise d on these assets in 2012 to reflect the lack of opportunities 
to  use  them  in  future  as  a  result  of  the  planned  closure  of  production  sites.  Of  this  amount,  €4,741  t housand 
relates to capitalised development costs. The impairment losses related to the LMH segment. 

Other intangible assets relate primarily to the intangible assets identified through the purchase price allocation for 
the acquisition of the KION Group, such as the customer base.  

The amortisation expense and impairment losses on intangible assets are reported under the functional costs. 

[ 19 ]  Leased assets 

The changes in leased assets in 2012 and 2011 were as follows: 

Leased assets

€ thousand

Balance as at 1/1/

Group changes
Currency translation adjustments
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation
Reclassification

Balance as at 31/12/

Gross carrying amount as at 31/12/
Accumulated depreciation

2012

2011

167,354

156,125

0
708
135,096
-60,589
-51,171
-76

3,110
-451
87,897
-28,642
-49,961
-724

191,322

167,354

453,945
-262,623

455,893
-288,539

Leased  assets  are  attributable  solely  to  the  Financial  Services  segment  and  relate  to  industrial  trucks  in  the 
d) and to truck equipment in the amount of €130 tho usand 
amount of €191,192 thousand (2011: €167,164 thousan
(2011: €190 thousand). 

Leased  assets  include  assets  leased  over  the  long  term  with  a  carrying  amount  of  €142,668 thousand  (31   De-
cember  2011:  €120,742  thousand)  that  are  funded  by  means  of  sale-and-leaseback  transactions  with  leasing 
companies and leased assets with a residual value of €48,653 thousand (31 December 2011: €46,612 thous and) 
that are largely funded internally or by means of bank loans. 

Leased assets resulted in non-cancellable lease obligations from customers amounting to €189,600 thous and (31 
December 2011: €162,140 thousand). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 34 of 88 

The following table shows the maturity structure of the minimum lease payments: 

Minimum lease payments

€ thousand

Cash receipts from minimum lease payments
  due within one year 
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

[ 20 ]  Rental assets 

The changes in rental assets in 2012 and 2011 were as follows: 

Rental assets

€ thousand

Balance as at 1/1/

Group changes
Currency translation adjustments
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation
Reclassification

Balance as at 31/12/

Gross carrying amount as at 31/12/
Accumulated depreciation

2012

2011

189,600
80,127
106,082
3,391

162,140
66,613
94,768
759

2012

2011

356,682

321,188

1,529
1,496
193,796
-28,191
-130,056
-163

7,580
-929
196,319
-51,997
-113,992
-1,487

395,093

356,682

912,994
-517,901

923,739
-567,057

,336  thousand)  and  disposals  amounting  to  €19,764 
Additions  amounting  to  €110,145  thousand  (2011:  €102
to the LMH segment. Additions amounting to €85,372 t hou-
thousand (2011: €28,437 thousand) are attributable 
sand  (2011:  €84,518  thousand)  and  disposals  amounti ng  to  €10,152  thousand  (2011:  €14,095  thousand)  are  
attributable to the STILL segment. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 35 of 88 

The breakdown of rental assets by contract type is shown in the following table: 

Rental assets broken down by contract types  

Operating leases 
as lessor

Sale with risk

Total

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Industrial trucks

Truck equipment

Total rental assets

323,647

4,585

287,913

2,066

328,232

289,979

66,760

101

66,861

66,466

237

66,703

390,407

4,686

354,379

2,303

395,093

356,682

Rental  assets  comprises  assets  resulting  from  short-term  rentals  ('operating  leases  as  lessor')  and  assets  for 
which significant risks and rewards remain with the KION Group although they were sold ('sale with risk').  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 36 of 88 

[ 21 ] 

 Other property, plant and equipment 

The changes in the carrying amounts of other property, plant and equipment were as follows: 

Other property, plant and equipment  

€ thousand

Balance as at 1/1/2011
Group changes
Exchange rate adjustments
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation
Impairment
Reclassification

Balance as at 31/12/2011

Plant, 
machinery, 
and office 
furniture and 
equipment

Advances 
paid and 
assets 
under 
construction

212,389
1,061
1,165
47,161
-9
-68,902
-7,975
3,613

11,345
779
-291
13,627
-609
0
0
-4,775

20,076

Land and 
buildings

366,609
4,404
3,686
2,049
-9,951
-15,987
-8,796
3,223

345,237

188,503

Total

590,343
6,244
4,560
62,837
-10,569
-84,889
-16,771
2,061

553,816

Gross carrying amount as at 31/12/2011
Accumulated depreciation

652,313
-307,076

1,014,798
-826,295

20,076
0

1,687,187
-1,133,371

Balance as at 1/1/2012
Group changes
Exchange rate adjustments
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation
Impairment
Reclassification

345,237
3,023
-319
9,937
-19,006
-14,105
-12,347
9,856

188,503
-173
-142
65,700
-30,374
-63,102
-3,962
5,973

20,076
0
-58
17,520
-6,215
0
0
-15,677

553,816
2,850
-519
93,157
-55,595
-77,207
-16,309
152

Balance as at 31/12/2012
Gross carrying amount as at 31/12/2012
Accumulated depreciation

322,276
637,632
-315,356

162,423
887,996
-725,573

15,646
15,646
0

500,345
1,541,274
-1,040,929

Land  and  buildings  in  the  amount  of  €4,244 thousand   (31  December  2011:  €12,168 thousand)  were  largely 
pledged as collateral for accrued retirement benefits under partial retirement agreements. 

The KION Group recognised impairment losses of €16,3 09 thousand in accordance with IAS 36 in 2012, predom-
inantly  in  connection  with  the  planned  closure  of  production  sites.  Of  this  amount,  €12,347 thousand  r elated  to 
land and buildings, and €3,962 thousand to plant an d machinery as well as office furniture and equipment. The 
impairment losses related to the LMH segment.        

Plant and machinery as well as office furniture and equipment include assets from procurement leases (finance 
leases) amounting to €15,517 thousand (31 December  2011: €15,695 thousand). The corresponding liabilit ies are 
reported as other financial liabilities.  

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 37 of 88 

[ 22 ]  At-Equity-accounted investments 

The  KION  Group  reported  at-equity  investments  with  a  total  carrying  amount  of  €154,835 thousand  as  at  3 1 
December 2012 (31 December 2011: €36,545 thousand).
 These associates and joint ventures are included in the 
list of shareholdings in the annex to these notes. Their key figures are as follows: 

At-Equity investments 

€ thousand

Associates (100 percent)

Revenue
Net income

Assets
Liabilities

Joint ventures (100 percent)

Revenue
Net income

Assets
  non-current assets
  current assets 
Liabilities
  non-current liabilities
  current liabilities 

2012

2011

569,374
15,260

540,068
10,960

1,073,037
712,873

576,103
494,021

132,036
4,764

107,874
5,612

54,999
24,209
30,790
30,225
4,744
25,481

51,546
25,115
26,431
26,223
2,699
23,524

The figures shown in the table are based on a notional 100 per cent investment. 

The significant increase in the carrying amount of the associates mainly resulted from the remaining shares (30 
per cent) in Linde Hydraulics, which were measured at their fair value of €116,143 thousand and will b e account-
ed for using the equity method on a going-forward basis. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 38 of 88 

[ 23 ]  Lease receivables  

For  leases  where  KION  Group  companies  lease  assets  directly  to  customers  as  part  of  the  Group's  financing 
activities, the Group's net investment in the lease is reported as a lease receivable. 

The amounts recognised as lease receivables are based on the following data: 

Lease receivables 

€ thousand

Gross investments
  due within one year 
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years 

Present value of outstanding minimum lease payments
  due within one year 
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

2012

2011

443,452
150,995
282,293
10,164

399,269
132,129
257,328
9,812

399,726
135,897
254,724
9,105

361,221
118,381
234,043
8,797

Unrealised financial income

44,183

38,505

investments 

Gross 
€345,499 thousand (31 December 2011: €326,930 thous

include  minimum 

lease  payments 

and).  

from  non-cancellable  sub-leases  amounting 

to 

Lease  receivables  include  the  unguaranteed  residual  values  accruing  to  the  benefit  of  the  KION  Group  in  the 
amount of €44,051 thousand (31 December 2011: €38,7

14 thousand). 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 39 of 88 

[ 24 ]  Other financial assets 

Other  financial  assets  of  €156,949 thousand  (31  Dec ember  2011:  €132,828 thousand)  are  comprised  of  the  
following: 

Other financial assets  

€ thousand

Pension assets
Investments in affiliated companies
Other investments
Loans receivable
Non-current securities
Derivative financial instruments

Other non-current financial assets

Derivative financial instruments
Financial receivables from affiliated companies and related companies
Financial receivables from third parties
Deferred charges and prepaid expenses
Sundry financial assets

Other current financial assets

Total other financial assets

2012

2011

22,759
3,919
2,253
730
770
19,740

50,171

4,202
8,477
1,110
20,357
72,632

19,958
1,956
2,253
795
770
0

25,732

23,277
4,277
1,074
14,030
64,438

106,778

107,096

156,949

132,828

Pension assets relate to asset surpluses from defined benefit plans. At the reporting date, the present values of 
defined benefit obligations are netted against the fair value of plan assets. If the plan assets exceed the obliga-
tion, this results in an asset.  

The non-current derivative financial instruments include the put option for the remaining shares in Linde Hydrau-
lics amounting to €19,740 thousand (2011: €0 thousa

nd). 

The sundry financial assets essentially include receivables from value added tax amounting to €37,178 
thousand 
(2011: €21,782 thousand) and non-derivative financi al receivables amounting to €35,236 thousand (31 De cember 
2011: €36,237 thousand) that are within the scope o f IFRS 7. 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 40 of 88 

[ 25 ] 

Inventories 

The reported inventories are comprised of the following: 

Inventories  

€ thousand

Materials and supplies
Work in progress
Finished goods and merchandise
Advances paid

Total inventories

2012

2011

119,980
74,954
349,049
5,944

150,949
98,387
370,714
5,319

549,927

625,369

The year-on-year reduction in inventories was mainly attributable to disposals in the amount of €56,62 6 thousand 
in connection with the sale of the controlling interest (70 per cent) in Linde Hydraulics. 

[ 26 ]  Trade receivables 

The trade receivables are comprised of the following: 

Trade receivables  

€ thousand

Receivables from third parties
  thereof receivables from third parties before valuation allowances
  thereof valuation allowances for overdue receivables > 90 days ≤ 180 days
  thereof valuation allowances for overdue receivables > 180 days
  thereof other valuation allowances for receivables
Trade receivables from affiliated companies
Trade receivables from investments in associated companies and joint ventures

Total trade receivables

2012

2011

607,303
657,835
-7,620 
-27,512 
-15,400 
3,487
14,672

651,560
701,125
-9,242 
-27,988 
-12,335 
3,150
21,843

625,462

676,553

Valuation  allowances  of  €50,532 thousand  (31  Decembe r  2011:  €49,565 thousand)  were  recognised  for  trade  
receivables.  

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 41 of 88 

[ 27 ]  Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents

€ thousand

Cash held by banks, on hand and cheque
Pledged cash

Total cash and cash equivalents

2012

2011

561,865
492

372,957
494

562,357

373,451

The change in cash and cash equivalents is shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows. For more detailed 
information, please also refer to note [ 35 ]. 

[ 28 ]  Equity 

Subscribed capital and capital reserves 

As  at  the  reporting  date,  the  Company's  subscribed  capital  was  fully  paid  up  and  amounted  to  €500 thous and, 
which was unchanged on 31 December 2011. 

In  December  2012  the  Shareholders'  Meeting  of  KION  Holding  1  GmbH  approved  a  resolution  to  increase  the 
share capital by €779 thousand to €1,279 thousand.  Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Weifang, China (referred to below 
as Weichai Power) – a leading manufacturer in the commercial vehicles and automotive supply sector – assumed 
a share of €320 thousand as part of this capital in crease and, on 27 December 2012, paid the capital contribution, 
including a premium, of €467,000 thousand in cash.  The remaining share amounting to €459 thousand was 
taken 
by the current shareholder Superlift Holding S.à r.l., Luxembourg, and was paid by contributing a shareholder loan 
(non-cash capital contribution) amounting to €670,7 84 thousand (including accrued interest), also on 27 Decem-
ber 2012. 

The capital increase was entered in the commercial register on 14 January 2013. The capital contributions paid 
by Weichai Power and Superlift Holding S.à r.l were therefore recorded in equity under the line item 'Contributions 
for carrying out the approved capital increase' as at 31 December 2012. 

in  connection  with  the  capital  increase.  These  costs  were 
Transaction  costs  of  €5,232 thousand  were  incurred 
deducted directly from the capital contributions. No tax benefits were recognised for the transaction costs owing to 
the lack of opportunities to utilise them. 

The capital reserve resulted from capital contributions by shareholders. 

Retained earnings 

The  movement  of  retained  earnings  is  shown  in  the  consolidated statement  of  changes  in  equity.  The  retained 
earnings comprise the net income (loss) for the financial year and earnings of the consolidated companies, pro-
vided they have not been distributed. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 42 of 88 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)  

Accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  includes  the  currency  translation  differences  arising  from  the 
translation of the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries, the effects of the fair value measurement of deriva-
tive financial instruments, the profit (loss) from at-equity investments, and the actuarial gains and losses in con-
nection with defined benefit pension obligations. 

Non-controlling interests 

Non-controlling  interests  in  companies  in  the  KION  Group  amounted  to  €6,159  thousand  (31  December  2011:  
€7,077 thousand). 

[ 29 ]  Retirement benefit obligation 

The  retirement  benefit  obligation  is  recognised  for  obligations  to  provide  current  and  future  post-employment 
benefits.  Post-employment  benefit  plans  are  classified  as  either  defined  benefit  plans  or  defined  contribution 
plans, depending on the substance of the plan as derived from its principal terms and conditions. 

Defined contribution plans 

In the case of defined-contribution pension plans, the Group pays contributions to government or private pension 
insurance  providers  based  on  statutory  or  contractual  provisions,  or  on  a  voluntary  basis.  The  Group  does  not 
enter  into  any  obligations  above  and  beyond  the  payment  of  contributions  to  an  external  pension  fund.  The 
amount of future pension benefits is based solely on the amount of the contributions paid by the employer (and in 
some cases the beneficiaries themselves) to the external pension fund, including income from the investment of 
these contributions. The total expense arising from defined contribution plans amounted to €63,895 tho usand in 
2012 (2011: €56,118 thousand). Of this total, contr ibutions paid by employers into government-run plans amount-
ed to €59,682 thousand (2011: €53,337 thousand). Th
e defined contribution plan expense is reported within the 
functional costs.  

Defined benefit plans 

The KION Group currently grants pensions to almost all employees in Germany and a number of foreign employ-
ees. These pensions consist of fixed benefit entitlements and are therefore reported as defined benefit plans in 
accordance  with  IFRS.  For  all  of  the  significant  defined  benefit  plans  within  the  Group,  the  benefits  granted  to 
employees  are  determined  on  the  basis  of  their  individual  income,  i.e.  either  directly  or  by  way  of  intermediate 
benefit arrangements. 

In accordance with IAS 19 ('Employee Benefits'), pension provisions are recognised to cover obligations arising 
from  the  current  and  future  pension  entitlements  of  active  and  former  employees  of  the  KION  Group  and  their 
surviving dependants. 

Some  of  KION  Group's  pension  obligations  in  Germany  are  financed  by  way  of  contractual  trust  arrangements 
(CTAs), which qualify as plan assets within the meaning of IAS 19. In the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the 
Netherlands, significant plan assets are invested in external pension funds with restricted access. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 43 of 88 

In the case of defined benefit plans, the beneficiaries are granted a specific benefit by the Group or an external 
pension  fund.  Due  to  future  salary  increases,  the  benefit  entitlement  at  the  retirement  age  of  the  beneficiary  is 
likely to be higher than the amount granted as at the reporting date. Pensions are often adjusted after an employ-
ee reaches retirement age. The amount of the Group's obligation, which is defined as the actuarial present value 
of the obligation to provide the level of benefits currently earned by each beneficiary, is expressed as the present 
value of the defined benefit obligation, which includes adjustments for future salary and pension increases. 

Measurement assumptions 

The  discount  rate  used  to  calculate  the  defined  benefit  obligation  at  each  reporting  date  is  determined  on  the 
basis  of  current  capital  market  data  and  long-term  assumptions  about  future  salary  and  pension  increases  in 
accordance  with  the  best  estimate  principle.  These  assumptions  vary  depending  on  the  economic  conditions 
affecting the currency in which benefit obligations are denominated and in which fund assets are invested, as well 
as capital market expectations. 

Benefit obligations are calculated on the basis of current mortality probabilities as determined in accordance with 
actuarial principles. The calculations also include assumptions about future employee turnover based on employ-
ee age and years of service and about the probability of retirement. The defined benefit obligation is calculated on 
the basis of the following weighted-average assumptions as at the reporting date: 

Assumptions underlying provisions for pensions and other postemployment benefits

Discount rate
Rate of remuneration increase
Rate of pension increase

Germany

UK

Other

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

3.50%
2.75%
1.75%

5.65%
2.75%
1.75%

4.35%
4.17%
2.94%

4.85%
4.18%
3.18%

2.57%
2.36%
0.26%

4.01%
2.31%
0.38%

The assumed discount rate is determined on the basis of the yield as at the reporting date on investment-grade, 
fixed-interest  corporate  bonds  with  maturities  that  match  the  expected  maturities  of  the  pension  obligations. 
Pension obligations in foreign companies are calculated on a comparable basis taking into account any country-
specific requirements. 

The  rate  of  remuneration  increase  relates  to  expected  future  increases  in  salaries,  which  are  estimated  on  an 
annual basis taking into account factors such as inflation and the overall economic situation.  

The mortality rates used in the calculation are based on published country-specific statistics and empirical values. 
Since  31  December  2009,  the  modified  Heubeck  2005  G  mortality  tables  have  been  used  in  Germany  as  the 
biometric  basis;  the  modified  tables  include  a  somewhat  higher  life  expectancy  for  males  than  the  unmodified 
tables. 

The  actuarial  assumptions  not  listed  in  the  table  above,  such  as  employee  turnover,  invalidity,  etc.,  are  deter-
mined in accordance with recognised forecasts in each country, taking into account the circumstances and fore-
casts of the companies concerned. 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 44 of 88 

The assumptions applied in calculating the defined benefit obligation as at the valuation date (31 December of the 
previous year) also apply to the calculation of the interest cost and the cost of pension entitlements arising in the 
current year (current service cost). 

Differences between the forecast and actual change in the defined benefit obligation and changes in related plan 
assets  (actuarial  gains  and  losses)  are  recognised  immediately  in  other  comprehensive  income  in  accordance 
with IAS 19. This ensures that the pension liability on the face of the statement of financial position is always the 
actuarial present value of obligations not covered by assets. 

In the case of external financed pension funds, the actuarial present value of the pension obligations as calculat-
ed in accordance with the projected unit credit method is reduced by the fair value of the assets of the external 
pension plan. If the assets of the external pension funds exceed the pension obligations, a corresponding asset is 
recognised in accordance with IAS 19. IAS 19.58 in conjunction with the supplementary explanatory information in 
IFRIC 14 states that the recognition of an asset for this excess of pension plan assets over pension obligations is 
only  permitted  if  the  company  concerned  is  entitled  to  receive  a  refund  of  this  excess  or  a  reduction  in  future 
contributions in its function as the employer responsible for the benefits under the plan. If pension obligations are 
not covered by the assets of an external pension funds, the net obligation is reported in pension provisions. 

In  the  defined benefit  plans  in  the  UK,  plan  assets exceed  the  pension  obligations.  However  the pension  asset 
ceiling  prescribed  under  IFRS  limiting  the  asset  to  be  recognised  on  the  statement  of  financial  position  did  not 
have an impact on these plans. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 45 of 88 

Statement of financial position 

The change in the present value of the defined benefit obligation is as follows: 

Changes in defined benefit obligation

Germany

UK

Other

Total

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Present value of defined benefit
obligation as at January 1
Group changes
Exchange differences
Current service cost
Interest cost
Employee contributions
Actuarial gains (-) and losses (+)
Pension benefits paid by the Company
Pension benefits paid from plan assets
Liability transfer out to third parties
Past service cost (+) and income (-)

Gains (-) / losses (+) 
on the curtailment of a plan

Present value of defined benefit
obligation as at Decem ber 31

389,271
-67,354 
− 
11,881
21,680
− 
201,473
-11,306 
− 
-232 
− 

381,913
− 
− 
11,894
20,526
− 
-14,150 
-10,697 
− 
-215 
− 

390,396
-6,866 
10,265
1,443
19,061
84
21,707
− 
-16,947 
− 
327

362,716
− 
10,769
1,245
19,132
135
12,665
− 
-16,312 
− 
46

79,362
-247 
197
2,919
3,068
834
17,471
-2,255 
-2,972 
− 
− 

75,681
284
973
3,103
2,778
781
103
-1,946 
-1,584 
− 
− 

859,029
-74,467 
10,462
16,243
43,809
918
240,651
-13,561 
-19,919 
-232 
327

820,310
284
11,742
16,242
42,436
916
-1,382 
-12,643 
-17,896 
-215 
46

− 

− 

− 

− 

− 

-811 

− 

-811 

545,413

389,271

419,470

390,396

98,377

79,362

1,063,260

859,029

  thereof unfunded
  thereof funded

231,397
314,016

177,739
211,532

− 
419,470

− 
390,396

28,186
70,191

22,148
57,214

259,583
803,677

199,887
659,142

The significant increase in the present value of the obligation caused by actuarial losses is largely attributable to 
the low discount rates for German pension plans compared with the previous year. 

 
 
 
 
  
 
   
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 46 of 88 

The following table shows the change in the fair value of plan assets: 

Changes in plan assets

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Germany

UK

Other

Total

Fair value of plan assets 
as at 1 January
Group changes
Exchange differences
Expected return on plan assets
Actuarial gains (+) and losses (-)
Employer contributions
Employee contributions
Pension benefits paid by funds

Fair value of plan assets 
as at 31 Decem ber

38,217
-1,834 
− 
2,184
1,449
− 
− 
− 

34,956 406,404 369,270
− 
-4,093 
11,309
10,680
18,736
18,296
17,364
17,786
5,902
7,299
84
135
-16,312 
-16,947 

− 
− 
1,936
1,325
− 
− 
− 

50,309
− 
185
2,251
6,077
2,219
834
-2,972 

50,907 494,930 455,133
-5,927 
− 
12,151
10,865
22,732
22,731
13,714
25,312
8,180
9,518
918
916
-17,896 
-19,919 

− 
842
2,060
-4,975 
2,278
781
-1,584 

40,016

38,217 439,509 406,404

58,903

50,309 538,428 494,930

In 2012 employer's contributions in the United Kingdom, which amounted to €7,299 thousand, included pay ments 
of  €4,931  thousand  into  pension  funds  on  the  basis  of  contractual  agreements.  Decisions  on  additions  to  plan 
assets  take  into  account  the  change  in  plan  assets  and  pension  obligations.  For  companies  outside  Germany, 
decisions also take into account the statutory minimum coverage requirements and the amounts deductible under 
local tax rules. 

The  payments  expected  for  the  following  year  amount  to  €24,501  thousand  (2012:  €21,845 thousand),  whic
h 
include  expected  employers'  contributions  of  €11,19 5 thousand  to  plan  assets  (2012:  €8,831 thousand)  a nd 
expected direct payments of pension benefits amounting to €13,306 thousand (2012: €13,014 thousand) th at are 
not  covered  by  corresponding  reimbursements  from  plan  assets.  According  to  local  measurement  rules,  there 
continue to be gaps in the coverage of four plans in the United Kingdom and as a result the expected employer's 
contributions in 2013 include payments of €7,595 th ousand in line with the agreements reached with the trustees. 
Moreover, KION GROUP GmbH, Wiesbaden, gave an unsecured guarantee for these four UK plans in 2012. This 
guarantee  covers  the  future  contractual  payments  of  the  KION  Group  and  employees  up  to  an  upper  limit  of 
around  €75,000  thousand.  This  upper  limit  will  be  r educed  by  the  payments  made  by  the  KION  Group.  At  the 
reporting date, the upper limit for the guarantee had therefore decreased to €58,067 thousand. The lik elihood of 
the guarantee being used is deemed low in view of the position of the individual companies against the backdrop 
of their current and future financial and earnings situations. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 47 of 88 

The reconciliation of funded status and net defined benefit obligation to the amounts reported on the face of the 
consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 December is shown in the following table: 

Funded status and net defined benefit obligation

Germany

UK

Other

Total

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Present value of the partially or 
fully funded defined benefit obligation
Fair value of plan assets

314,016 211,532 419,470 390,396
38,217 439,509 406,404

40,016

70,191
58,903

57,214 803,677 659,142
50,309 538,428 494,930

Surplus (-) / deficit (+)

274,000 173,315

-20,039 

-16,008 

11,288

6,905 265,249 164,212

Present value of the unfunded defined 
benefit obligation

231,397 177,739

− 

− 

28,186

22,148 259,583 199,887

Surplus (-) / deficit (+) total

505,397 351,054

-20,039 

-16,008 

39,474

29,053 524,832 364,099

Unrecognised past 
service cost (-) and income (+)

Net defined benefit obligation 
as at 31 Decem ber

  Reported as 
“retirement benefit obligation“

  Reported as 
“Other non-current financial assets“

− 

− 

− 

− 

-1,071 

-1,143 

-1,071 

-1,143 

505,397 351,054

-20,039 

-16,008 

38,403

27,910 523,761 362,956

505,397 351,054

2,720

3,950

38,403

27,910 546,520 382,914

− 

− 

-22,759 

-19,958 

− 

− 

-22,759 

-19,958 

In  addition,  the  KION  pension  plan  for  employees  of  the  KION  Group  in  Germany  holds  plan  assets  of 
€19,486 thousand  (2011:  €18,474 thousand)  which  are
  wholly  offset  by  corresponding  liabilities  relating  to  the 
direct pension entitlement plan. 

Statement of cash flows 

In  the  case  of  obligations  not  covered  by  external  assets,  payments  to  beneficiaries  are  made  directly  by  the 
Company  and  therefore  have  an  impact  on  cash  flows  from  operating  activities.  If  the  benefit  obligations  are 
backed by external assets, the payments are made from existing plan assets and have no effect on the Compa-
ny's cash flow. Instead, any contributions made to the external pension fund by the Company result in net cash 
used for operating activities. 

During the reporting year, pension benefits of €33, 480 thousand (2011: €30,539 thousand) were paid in  connec-
tion with the main pension entitlements in the KION Group, of which €13,561 thousand (2011: €12,643 tho
usand) 
was paid directly by the Company and €19,919 thousa nd (2011: €17,896 thousand) was paid from plan asse ts. 
Cash contributions to plan assets in 2012 amounted to €9,518 thousand (2011: €8,180 thousand). Further more, 
pension  benefit  payments  totalling  €232  thousand  (2 011:  €215  thousand)  were  transferred  to  external  pe nsion 
funds. 

Income statement 

In accordance with IAS 19, actuarial computations are performed for benefit obligations in order to determine the 
amount to be expensed in each period in a systematic way. The expenses recognised in the income statement for 
pensions and similar obligations consist of a number of components that are calculated and disclosed separately. 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 48 of 88 

The  service  cost  is  the  new  pension  entitlement  arising  in  the  financial  year  and  is  recognised  in  the  income 
statement. It is calculated as the actuarial present value of that proportion of the expected defined benefit obliga-
tion when the pension is paid attributable to the year under review on the basis of the maximum length of service 
achievable by each employee.  

The  interest  cost,  i.e.  the  expense  arising  from  the  increase  in  the  defined  benefit  obligation  at  the  end  of  the 
previous year using the discount rate assumed for the year under review, is recognised in the income statement, 
as is the expected return on plan assets in the case of benefits covered by external assets. 

An unrecognised past service cost arises if there is a change to the pension entitlement. 

The breakdown of the net cost of the defined benefit obligation (expenses less income) recognised in the income 
statement for 2012 is as follows: 

Cost of defined benefit obligation

Germany

UK

Other

Total

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Current service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Past service cost (+) and income (-)

11,881
21,680
-2,184 
− 

11,894
20,526
-1,936 
− 

1,443
19,061
-18,296 
327

1,245
19,132
-18,736 
46

2,919
3,068
-2,251 
72

3,103
2,778
-2,060 
131

16,243
43,809
-22,731 
399

16,242
42,436
-22,732 
177

Gains (-) or losses (+) 
on the curtailment of a plan

Total cost of 
defined benefit obligation

− 

− 

− 

− 

− 

-708 

− 

-708 

31,377

30,484

2,535

1,687

3,808

3,244

37,720

35,415

Overall, the KION Group reported an expense of €21,0 78 thousand (2011: €19,704 thousand) under net fina ncial 
income/expenses.  This  amount  comprised  the  interest  cost  and  the  expected  return  on  plan  assets.  All  other 
components of pension expenses are recognised under the functional costs. 

The actual total return on plan assets in 2012 was €48,043 thousand (2011: €36,446 thousand). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 49 of 88 

Other comprehensive income (loss) 

The  breakdown  of  actuarial  gains  and  losses  on  the  defined  benefit  obligation  recognised  in  the  statement  of 
comprehensive income in 2012 are as follows: 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Germany

UK

Other

Total

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Accum ulated other com prehensive 
incom e/loss as at 1 January
Group changes

Gains(-) and losses(+) on the 
measurement of defined benefit obligation
Gains (+) and losses (-) on plan assets
Exchange differences

Accum ulated other com prehensive 
incom e/loss as at 31 Decem ber

81,458
− 

65,983
− 

-37,014 
2,235

-40,769 
− 

-10,160 
− 

-4,925 
− 

34,284
2,235

20,289
− 

-201,473 
1,449
− 

14,150
1,325
− 

-21,707 
17,786
-965 

-12,665 
17,364
-944 

-17,471 
6,077
-40 

-103  -240,651 
25,312
-1,005 

-4,975 
-157 

1,382
13,714
-1,101 

-118,566 

81,458

-39,665 

-37,014 

-21,594 

-10,160  -179,825 

34,284

The  changes  in  estimates  relating  to  defined  benefit  pension  entitlements  resulted  in  a  €151,311 thous and  de-
crease in equity as at 31 December 2012 (after deferred taxes). Of this decrease, €151,267 thousand re lated to 
shares held by the shareholders of KION Holding 1 GmbH and €44 thousand to non controlling interests. 

Additional disclosures 

The plan assets of the main pension plans consist of the following components: 

Fair value of plan assets

Germany

UK

Other

Total

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Securities
Fixed-income securities
Real estate
Insurance policies
Other

Total plan assets

7,134
18,301
1,551
− 
13,030

6,862
12,580
2,859
− 
15,916

86,922
259,556
− 
− 
93,031

73,583
267,739
331
− 
64,751

8,462
11,743
3,888
32,600
2,210

7,187
11,499
3,593
26,353
1,677

102,518
289,600
5,439
32,600
108,271

87,632
291,818
6,783
26,353
82,344

40,016

38,217

439,509

406,404

58,903

50,309

538,428

494,930

The plan assets do not include any real estate or other assets used by the KION Group itself. The Other category 
largely comprises inflation-linked UK government bonds for the four large plans in the United Kingdom.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 50 of 88 

The expected return in 2012 and 2011 for the main investment categories of plan assets are as follows: 

Expected return on plan assets

Securities
Fixed-income securities
Real estate
Insurance policies
Other

Germany

UK

Other

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

7.35%
3.74%
5.10%
− 
6.68%

7.45%
3.50%
5.20%
− 
6.68%

5.77%
4.31%
6.50%
− 
3.19%

6.73%
4.81%
6.50%
− 
4.17%

6.80%
2.40%
4.60%
4.69%
6.00%

7.10%
2.90%
4.60%
3.88%
6.40%

Weighted average expected return

5.71%

5.54%

4.43%

5.21%

4.51%

4.26%

The expected return on plan assets was determined on the basis of the plan's policy regarding the asset classes 
in  which  it  invests.  Expected  returns  are  based  on  the  current  yields  on  government  bonds  with  corresponding 
maturities, adjusted for specific credit spreads for the different asset classes. The expected return on plan assets 
is  recognised  as  income  in  the  relevant  period.  The  differences  between  expected  and  actual  income  on  plan 
assets represent experience adjustments and are recognised in other comprehensive income in the year in which 
they arise. 

The present value of the defined benefit obligation is based on the assumptions detailed above. If the discount 
rate were to increase or decrease by a quarter of one percentage point (rising to 3.75 per cent or falling to 3.25 
per  cent  in  the  case  of  Germany  as  at  31 December  2012),  pension  entitlements  would  be  €43,458 thousan d 
(2011: €35,632 thousand) lower or €45,463 thousand 
(2011: €35,747 thousand) higher, respectively. Othe r com-
prehensive  loss  (2011:  gain)  after  tax  would  be  €31 ,611 thousand  (2011:  €25,999 thousand)  higher  or 
€33,081 thousand (2011: €26,036 thousand) lower. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 51 of 88 

Five-year overview 

The following table shows a five-year overview of experience adjustments arising from the differences between 
actuarial assumptions and actual circumstances: 

Five-year overview

€ thousand

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

Present value of defined benefit obligation 
as at 31 December

1,063,260

859,029

820,310

722,779

629,198

Experience adjustments arising 
on the plan liabilities

Fair value of plan assets 
as at 31 December

Experience adjustments arising 
on the plan assets

Surplus (-) / deficit (+) in total

Unrecognised past service cost (-) 
and income (+)

Net defined benefit obligation 
as at 31 December

6,566

144

-76 

4,858

39

538,428

494,930

455,133

401,510

320,248

25,312

524,832

13,714

364,099

17,350

365,177

51,763

321,269

-107,388 

308,950

-1,071 

-1,143 

-1,377 

40

− 

523,761

362,956

363,800

321,309

308,950

While the actuarial gains and losses on the present value of the obligation only partially result in part from experi-
ence  adjustments,  the  actuarial  gains  or  losses  on  the  fair  value  of  the  plan  asset  are  entirely  attributable  to 
experience adjustments. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 52 of 88 

[ 30 ]  Financial liabilities and shareholder loan 

The financial liabilities reported by the KION Group essentially comprise interest-bearing liabilities to banks and 
capital market liabilities in connection with the corporate bond that was issued. The liabilities to banks stem large-
ly from a loan agreement.  

The table below shows the contractual maturity structure of the financial liabilities and the shareholder loan. 

Maturity structure of financial liabilities and shareholder loan

€ thousand

Liabilities to banks
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

Corporate bond
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

Other financial liabilities
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

Total current financial liabilities

Total non-current financial liabilities

Liabilities from shareholder loan
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

Loan agreement 

2012

2011

1,858,448
51,152
1,692,072
115,224

2,509,889
223,979
2,285,910
0

489,495
0
0
489,495

4,488
623
0
3,865

487,508
0
0
487,508

7,333
3,397
0
3,936

51,775

227,376

2,300,656

2,777,354

0
0
0
0

643,132
0
0
643,132

In connection with its acquisition of Linde AG's material-handling business the KION Group signed a loan agree-
ment (a senior facilities agreement and a subordinated facility agreement, referred to below as 'SFA') for a total 
original amount of €3,300,000 thousand with the lea d banks Barclays Bank Plc, Bayerische Hypo- und Vereins-
bank  AG,  Credit  Suisse  (London  branch),  Goldman  Sachs  International  Bank,  Lehman  Commercial  Paper  Inc. 
(UK  branch)  and  Mizuho  Corporate  Bank  Ltd.  on  23  December 2006.  The  loans  provided  under  the  SFA  carry 
variable  interest  rates.  Transaction  costs  of  €23,6 37 thousand  (2011:  €20,175 thousand)  reduced  the  ca rrying 
amount of the loans as at the reporting date. These costs have been allocated pro rata to each of the tranches 
and expensed over their respective terms. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 53 of 88 

The following material amendments were made to the SFA in subsequent years: 

•  Under  amendments made  to the  SFA  on 8  March  2007  the  subordinated  facility  agreement  was  totally  re-
placed  by  a  senior  facilities  agreement  and  unused  credit lines  totalling  €200,000  thousand  were  retur ned, 
thereby reducing the total amount of the SFA to €3,1 00,000 thousand.  

•  Under amendments made to the SFA on 23 September 2009 the financial covenants applicable during the 
term of the loan were modified. At the same time, an additional credit line of €100,000 thousand and an  in-
crease in the collateral security provided for this facility were agreed. Furthermore, the interest rates payable 
on existing credit lines were raised by between 0.25 and 1.50 percentage points. The amounts of these inter-
est-rate increases primarily fall due in the form of bullet payments at maturity (payments in kind, or PIKs). All 
the interest payable on the new credit line of €100 ,000 thousand falls due in the form of a bullet payment at 
maturity. The company making this credit line available is Superlift Funding S.à r.l., Luxembourg, which is a 
related party to the KION Group. 

In July 2012 the KION Group amended its SFA loan again and extended it, thereby improving the maturity profile 
of existing loans. This included a significant part (€186,677 thousand) of the existing revolving cred it line, whose 
maturity  was  extended  from  December  2013  to  December  2016,  and  €966,638 thousand  of  loans  under  Loan 
Facilities B and C, whose maturities were extended from December 2014 (Loan Facility B) and December 2015 
(Loan  Facility  C)  to  December  2017.  In  addition,  the  maturity  of  the  €114,097 thousand  loan  agreed  as  part  of 
Loan Facility G was extended from December 2016 to June 2018. 

In connection with the extension of the loan facilities, additional lines of €113,323 thousand were gr anted for the 
revolving credit facility due in December 2016. 

Under the terms of the extension of the loan facilities, it was also agreed to increase the interest margins by 1.0 to 
1.5 percentage points. The accrued and unpaid interest (payment in kind, PIK) was capitalized for the extended 
loan facilities. In future, interest will be paid immediately for the extended loans under term loan facilities B2 and 
C2. 

Until 31 December 2012 transaction costs of €12,899  thousand were incurred. These costs have been allocated 
pro rata to each of the tranches and expensed over their respective new terms. There were also transaction costs 
of €1,433 thousand in connection with the revolving  credit facility. These are reported as prepaid expenses under 
current financial assets and are released over the residual term of the revolving credit facility, which is currently 
not being utilised. 

Corporate bond  

thousand  through  the  consolidated  subsidiary  KION 
The  KION  Group  issued  a  corporate  bond  for  €500,000 
Finance S.A., Luxembourg, in April 2011. Of the bond's total par value of €500,000 thousand, €325,000 tho
usand 
is repayable at a fixed interest rate of 7.875 per cent p.a., while €175,000 thousand carries a floati ng interest rate 
based on the three-month EURIBOR plus a margin of 4.25 percentage points. Interest on the fixed-rate tranche is 
paid  semi-annually,  while  interest  on  the  floating-rate  tranche  is  paid  quarterly.  The  bond's  principal  amount  is 
redeemed  as  a  bullet  payment  on  maturity.  Borrowing  costs  of  €10,505 thousand  (2011:  €12,492 thousand) 
reduced the carrying amount of the bond as at the reporting date. These costs have been allocated pro rata to 
each of the tranches and are expensed over their respective terms. The corresponding liability is reported as a 
capital market liability. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 54 of 88 

Shareholder loan 

KION Holding 1 GmbH and Superlift Holding S.à r.l., Luxembourg, signed an agreement on a shareholder loan for 
the amount of €500,000 thousand on 27 December 2006 . The shareholder loan, amounting to €670,784 thous and 
(including accrued interest), was converted into equity with effect from 27 December 2012. 

Changes in net financial debt  

The KION Group uses “net financial debt” as a key performance indicator for analysing the changes in its financial 
liabilities. Net financial debt is defined as the difference between financial liabilities (excluding lease liabilities) and 
cash and cash equivalents. 

The table below gives a breakdown of the KION Group's net financial debt as at 31 December 2012. 

Net financial debt

€ thousand

Corporate bond - fixed rate (2011/2018) - gross
Corporate bond - floating rate  (2011/2018) - gross
Liabilities to banks (gross)
Liabilities to non-banks (gross)
./. Capitalized borrowing costs
Financial debt
./. Cash and cash equivalents
Net financial debt

2012

2011

325,000
175,000
1,882,085
4,488
-34,142 
2,352,431
562,357
1,790,074

325,000
175,000
2,530,064
7,333
-32,667 
3,004,730
373,451
2,631,279

The  Multicurrency  Revolving  Credit  Facility  (€137,6 04  thousand)  drawn  down  in  November  2011  was  repaid  in 
2012.  In  addition,  the  Multicurrency  Capex  Restructuring  and  Acquisition  Facility  was  reduced  by  €56,1 42 
thousand.  Term  Loan  Facility  D  was  repaid  in  full  (€202,252  thousand)  in  December  2012.  The  financial  debt 
under Term Loan Facility B1 (denominated in euros) was reduced by €147,897 thousand and the financial d ebt 
under term loan facility B1 (denominated in US dollars) was reduced by €123,485 thousand. Repayment of T erm 
Loan  Facility  B1  (denominated  in  US  dollars)  generated  foreign  currency  exchange  rate  gains  of  €2,803 
thousand, as a result of which the KION Group's total repayments in 2012 amounted to €664,577 thousand.

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 55 of 88 

The table below gives details of the changes in financial debt and the applicable terms and conditions. 

Credit terms 

€ thousand

Interest rate

Notional amount

Maturity

EURIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility B1 (EUR)
EURIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility B2 (EUR)
LIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility B1 (USD)
LIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility B2 (USD)
EURIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility C1 (EUR)
EURIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility C2 (EUR)
LIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility C1 (USD)
LIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility C2 (USD)
EURIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility D
EURIBOR + MARGIN
Term Loan Facility G
Fixed rate
Term Loan Facility H1a (Corporate bond - fixed rate)
3-M-EURIBOR+MARGIN
Term Loan Facility H1b (Corporate bond - floating rate)
Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility
EURIBOR + MARGIN
Multicurrency Capex Restructuring and Acquisition Facility EURIBOR + MARGIN
Various currencies 
and interest terms

Other liabilities to banks
Other financial liabilities to non-banks
./. Capitalized borrowing costs

Total financial debt

2014
2017
2014
2017
2015
2017
2015
2017
2012
2018
2018
2018
2012
2013

2012

2011

138,503
411,117
108,014
79,129
286,645
382,818
227,105
81,271
− 
115,951
325,000
175,000
− 
18,216

690,881
− 
310,560
− 
663,033
− 
310,560
− 
201,742
111,210
325,000
175,000
132,691
71,596

33,316
4,488
-34,142 

37,791
7,333
-32,667 

2,352,431 3,004,730

Term Loan Facilities B and C were split in connection with the adjustment and extension of the Loan Facilities: B1 
and C1 represent the original conditions, while B2 and C2 represent the adjusted conditions. 

Financial covenants 

The SFA and the contractual terms and conditions governing the issuance of the corporate bond require among 
other things compliance with certain undertakings and covenants. The SFA also requires compliance with specific 
financial  covenants  during  the  term  of  the  agreement.  The  financial  covenants  specify  required  ratios  for  the 
financial position and financial performance of the KION Group. The covenants are expressed in the form of key 
figures  relating  to  leverage,  available  liquidity,  EBITDA,  interest  paid  as  well  as  capital  expenditures.  If  these 
requirements or financial covenants are breached, this may, for example, give lenders the right to terminate the 
SFA or permit bondholders to demand repayment of the corporate bond prior to its maturity date. 

All financial covenants were complied with in the past financial year. 

Loan collateral 

Under the SFA, the KION Group is under an obligation to provide collateral for its obligations and liabilities. This 
obligation also includes the corporate bond (newly added SFA tranches H1a and H1b). By the reporting date a 
total  of  26  (31  December  2011:  26)  KION  Group  companies  (guarantors)  in  five  countries  –  Germany,  the  UK, 
France, Spain and Italy – had provided the necessary collateral. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 56 of 88 

The collateral includes guarantees, the assignment of shares in the guarantors (with the exception of shares in 
KION  GROUP  GmbH),  the  assignment  of  bank  accounts  and  guarantor  receivables,  the  assignment  of  claims 
arising from and in connection with the share purchase agreement between Linde Material Handling GmbH and 
Linde AG dated November 5, 2006, relating to the shares in the former KION GROUP GmbH, the assignment of 
shares  in  KION  Information  Management  Services  GmbH  and  assignments  and  transfers  of  title  to  intellectual 
property  rights  by  guarantors  in  Germany.  The  statutory  provisions  in  the  United  Kingdom  and  the  agreements 
entered into require that all the assets of the UK guarantors are pledged as security. 

The  carrying  amounts  of  the  financial  assets  pledged  as  collateral  amounted  to  €600,713 thousand  as  at
reporting date (31 December 2011: €791,985 thousand ). 

  the 

As had been the case at the end of 2011, no liabilities to banks were secured by pledges of real property at the 
end of 2012.  

[ 31 ]  Lease liabilities  

Lease  liabilities  relate  solely  to  finance  lease  obligations  arising  from  sale-and-leaseback  transactions  for  the 
funding of long-term leases with customers.  

The amounts recognised as lease liabilities are based on the following data: 

Minimum lease payments

€ thousand

Total minimum lease payments (gross)
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

Present value of minimum lease payments 
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

2012

2011

524,389
166,802
344,613
12,974

475,015
145,830
316,761
12,424

490,156
165,739
312,512
11,905

446,789
146,728
288,506
11,555

Interest included in minimum lease payments

49,374

43,367

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 57 of 88 

[ 32 ]  Other provisions 

Other provisions relate to the following items: 

Other provisions 

€ thousand

Balance as at 1/1/2012
  thereof non-current 
  thereof current 
Changes in group of consolidated entities
Additions
Utilisations
Reversals
Additions to accrued interest
Exchange differences
Other adjustments

Balance as at 12/31/2012
  thereof non-current 
  thereof current 

Provisions
 for product 
warranties

Provisions 
for personnel

Other 
obligations

Total other 
provisions

74,949
69,729
5,220
-454
18,001
-21,590
-6,846
0
278
43

64,381
61,356
3,025

148,103
16,935
131,168
-4,906
27,498
-40,935
-30,078
2,166
0
-11,865

89,983
18,369
71,614

56,794
9,504
47,290
5,644
33,402
-23,792
-11,053
2
25
11,622

72,644
9,395
63,249

279,846
96,168
183,678
284
78,901
-86,317
-47,977
2,168
303
-200

227,008
89,120
137,888

The provisions for product warranties include contractual and statutory obligations arising from the sale of indus-
trial trucks and spare parts. It is expected that the majority of the costs will be incurred within the next two years 
after the reporting date. 

The  provisions  for  personnel comprise  provisions  for  partial  retirement  obligations,  long-service  awards,  annual 
bonuses, severance pay and redundancy payments. The provision for partial retirement obligations is recognised 
on the basis of individual contractual arrangements. 

Other  obligations  largely  comprise  restructuring  provisions,  provisions  for  litigations,  guarantees  and  expected 
losses from onerous contracts. 

The KION Group had recognised restructuring provisions (including redundancy payments) of €74,465 thous and 
in  2011,  predominantly  in  connection  with  the  relocation  of  production  sites.  In  2012  it  was  possible  to  reverse 
€20,083  thousand  of  this  amount  following  finalisat ion  of  the  negotiations  on  the  redundancy  scheme.  In  2012 
restructuring  provisions  (including  redundancy  payments)  amounting  to  €28,883 thousand  were  recognised , 
predominantly in connection with the planned closure of production sites. As a result, total restructuring provisions 
(including redundancy payments) came to €65,006 tho usand as at 31 December 2012. 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 58 of 88 

[ 33 ]  Other financial liabilities 

Other financial liabilities include the following items: 

Other financial liabilities  

€ thousand

Liabilities from finance leases
Deferred income
Sundry other liabilities 
Derivative financial instruments

Other non-current financial liabilities

Liabilities from finance leases
Deferred income
Personnel liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Social security liabilities
Tax liabilities
Advances received from third parties
Liabilities on bills of exchange
Liabilities from accrued interest
Sundry current financial liabilities

Other current financial liabilities

Total other financial liabilities

2012

2011

208,136
132,662
4,323
9,957

171,070
118,455
14,264
− 

355,078

303,789

92,204
84,357
161,637
33,613
40,460
65,857
37,596
2,295
9,588
29,423

83,653
86,551
128,349
17,742
38,894
50,269
41,981
3,799
10,360
42,490

557,030

504,088

912,108

807,877

The current derivative financial instruments include, among other things, two call options on the remaining shares 
in Linde Hydraulics amounting to €16,520 thousand ( 2011: €0 thousand). 

Other  financial  liabilities  include  non-derivative  liabilities  of  €159,202 thousand  (31  December  2011:
thousand) that fall within the scope of IFRS 7. 

  €180,226 

Other financial liabilities also include liabilities arising from the financing of industrial trucks for short-term rental 
nd) and 
(reported under liabilities from finance leases) amounting to €263,745 thousand (2011: €222,246 thousa
residual value obligations amounting to €21,379 tho usand (2011: €15,765 thousand). The KION Group has r ec-
ognised other financial liabilities amounting to €1 5,216 thousand (31 December 2011: €16,712 thousand)  arising 
from procurement leases, which are classified as finance leases due to their terms and conditions. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 59 of 88 

The liabilities from finance leases are based on the following future minimum lease payments:  

Minimum lease payments

€ thousand

Total minimum lease payments (gross)
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

Present value of minimum lease payments 
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

2012

2011

331,558
105,466
217,889
8,203

300,340
92,204
200,280
7,856

279,447
94,491
178,168
6,788

254,723
83,653
164,482
6,588

Interest included in minimum lease payments

31,218

24,724

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 60 of 88 

[ 34 ]  Contingent liabilities and other financial obligations 

Contingent liabilities 

Contingent liabilities

€ thousand

Liabilities on bills of exchange
Liabilities on guarantees 
Collateral security for third-party liabilities 

Total contingent liabilities

2012

2011

4,445
3,197
65

7,707

3,516
2,129
69

5,714

Guarantees amounting to €797 thousand (2011: €2,129
with another shareholder of a joint venture. 

 thousand) relate to contingent liabilities assumed jointly 

Litigation  

The legal risks arising from the KION Group's business are typical of those faced by any company operating in 
this sector. The Company is a party in a number of pending lawsuits in various countries. It cannot assume with 
any degree of certainty that it will win any of the lawsuits or that the existing risk provision in the form of insurance 
or  provisions  will  be  sufficient  in  each  individual  case.  However,  the  Company  believes  it  is  remote  that  these 
ongoing lawsuits will result in additional provisions. 

Other financial commitments 

Other financial commitments

€ thousand

Liabilities under non-cancellable operating leases
Capital expenditure commitments in property, plant and equipment
Capital expenditure commitments in intangible assets
Other financial commitments

Total other financial commitments

2012

2011

194,216
7,191
2,597
18,530

205,394
6,109
1,630
16,958

222,534

230,091

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 61 of 88 

The maturity structure of the total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as 
follows: 

Minimum lease payments 

€ thousand

Nominal minimum lease payments
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

2012

2011

194,216
38,808
90,394
65,014

205,394
58,856
104,634
41,904

The minimum lease payments relate to payments for leased buildings, machinery, office furniture and equipment 
(procurement  leases)  as  well  as  payments  for  industrial  trucks  refinanced  with  a  sale-and-leaseback  and  sub-
leased to end customers (sale-and-leaseback sub-leases). 

Minimum lease payments broken down into procurement leases & sale-and-leaseback subleases 

Procurement leases

Sale-and-Leaseback-
Subleases

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

Minimum lease payments (cash out)
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

Minimum lease payments (cash in)
  due within one year
  due in one to five years
  due in more than five years

142,074
21,329
55,745
65,000

151,486
38,134
71,452
41,900

− 
− 
− 
− 

− 
− 
− 
− 

52,142
17,479
34,649
14

6,843
3,572
3,268
3

53,908
20,722
33,182
4

11,257
5,813
5,440
4

The  future  minimum  lease  payments  for  sale-and-leaseback  transactions  not  recognised  on  the  statement  of 
financial position amounting to €52,142 thousand ar e partially offset by payments received under non-cancellable 
sub-leases amounting to €6,843 thousand. The future  payments also include obligations arising from the refinanc-
ing of industrial trucks for which there are no offsetting receipts under short-term sub-leases. 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 62 of 88 

Other disclosures 

[ 35 ]  Consolidated statement of cash flows 

The consolidated statement of cash flows shows the changes in cash and cash equivalents in the KION Group 
resulting  from  cash  inflows  and  outflows  in  the  year  under  review,  broken  down  into  cash  flow  from  operating, 
investing  and  financing  activities.  The  effects  on  cash  from  changes  in  exchange  rates  are  shown  separately. 
Cash flow from operating activities is presented using the indirect method in which the profit or loss for the year is 
adjusted for non-cash operating items.  

The non-cash income of €142,530 thousand essentiall y comprises the income arising from the remeasurement of 
the  remaining shares  (30 per cent)  in  Linde  Hydraulics  at  fair  value  (€108,692  thousand),  the  gain  fro m  the  re-
measurement  of  the  existing,  formerly  equity-accounted  investment  in  Linde  Creighton  Ltd.  (€  8,015  tho usand) 
and the income arising on the remeasurement of purchase price obligations (€4,557 thousand). 

,810 
Cash  flow  from  operating  activities  increased  by  7.0  per  cent  to  €414,008  thousand  in  2012  (2011:  €386
thousand).  The  underlying  reason  for  this  improvement  was  that  earnings  before  interest  and  taxes  (EBIT)  in-
creased to €550,113 thousand in the reporting year  (2011: €213,160 thousand). 

The  net  cash  provided  by  investing  activities  of  €1 04,052  thousand  (2011:  outflow  of  €152,580 thousand )  was 
mainly attributable to the sale of the 70 per cent controlling interest in Linde Hydraulics for a purchase considera-
tion of €271,000 thousand including the options. Of
 the total purchase consideration, €262,870 thousan d was paid 
in  cash  and  €8,130 thousand  was  paid  into  a  trust  a ccount.  Cash  payments  for  capital  expenditures  on  non-
current  assets and  property, plant  and  equipment  amounted  to €155,101  thousand  (2011:  €133,005  thousan d). 
The net cash used for acquisitions totalled €9,703 
thousand (2011: €32,916 thousand) and essentially r elated to 
the acquisition of the outstanding shares (51 per cent) in Linde Creighton Ltd., Basingstoke, United Kingdom. The 
proceeds  from the  disposal  of  non-current assets  primarily  related  to  disposals  of  assets no  longer  required  for 
the Group's operating activities. 

The net cash used for financing activities amounted to €330,130 thousand (2011: €114,715 thousand). Wh ereas 
the main factors affecting this cash flow in 2011 were the net inflows resulting from the issuance of a corporate 
bond (inflow of €500,000 thousand), the funds drawn  down under a revolving SFA credit line (inflow of €1 32,691 
in  2012 
thousand)  and  the  repayment  of  SFA  liabilities  (outflow  of €537,018  thousand),  the  net outflow  of  cash 
was largely attributable to the repayment of SFA liabilities (outflow of €664,577 thousand) and the inf
low of funds 
increase  (inflow  of 
from 
€467,000 thousand). Interest payments decreased by 
f the 
declined interest rates. In 2012 there were also receipts of €20,490 thousand from currency hedges (20 11: pay-
ments of €13,714 thousand). 

the  approved  capital 
€17,743 thousand to €129,712 thousand as a result o

the  capital  contribution  made  by  Weichai  Power 

for 

Following its consolidation for the first time in 2011, on 2 November 2012 the KION Group acquired the remaining 
shares  (34  per  cent)  in  Voltas  Material  Handling  Private  Limited,  Pune,  India,  for  a  purchase  consideration  of 
€8,304 thousand. The cash used for this transaction  is reported in cash flow from financing activities as required 
by IAS 7.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 63 of 88 

The  amount  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2012  increased  by  a  total  of 
butable  to  exchange-rate  movements.  This  substantial 
€188,906 thousand,  €976 thousand  of  which  was  attri
increase was largely the result of the net cash provided by the sale of the 70 per cent controlling interest in Linde 
Hydraulics (inflow of €262,870 thousand). Cash and  cash equivalents amounted to €562,357 thousand as a t the 
reporting date. 

 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 64 of 88 

[ 36 ] 

Information on financial instruments 

The  KION  Group  uses both  primary  and derivative  financial  instruments.  The  following section  summarises  the 
relevance of these financial instruments for the KION Group. 

The following table shows the measurement categories defined by IAS 39. In line with IFRS 7, the table shows 
the carrying amounts and fair values of financial assets and liabilities: 

Carrying amounts broken down by class and category

FAHfT

AfS

LaR

HtM

FLaC

FLHfT

Fair value

Categories

Classes

€ thousand

Financial assets

Loans receivable
Financial receivables
Available-for-sale investments
Lease receivables* 
Trade receivables
Other receivables

thereof non-derivative receivables

Carrying 
amount

2012

730
9,587
768
399,269
625,462
59,178
35,236

thereof derivative financial instruments

23,942

21,077

Cash and cash equivalents

562,357

Financial liabilities

Liabilities to banks
Corporate bond
Other financial liabilities
Shareholder loan
Lease liabilities*
Trade payables
Other liabilities

thereof non-derivative liabilities

thereof liabilities from finance leases*

thereof derivative financial instruments

* as defined by IAS 17

1,858,448
489,495
4,488
0
475,015
646,044
503,112
159,202

300,340

43,570

768

730
9,587

625,462

35,236

730
9,587
768
398,229
625,462
59,178
35,236

23,942

562,357

1,858,448
530,906
4,488
0
475,806
646,044
503,612
159,202

300,840

43,570

1,858,448
489,495
4,488
0

646,044

159,202

23,968

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 65 of 88 

Carrying amounts broken down by class and category

FAHfT

AfS

LaR

HtM

FLaC

FLHfT

Fair value

Categories

Classes

€ thousand

Financial assets

Loan receivable
Financial receivables
Available-for-sale investments
Lease receivables* 
Trade receivables
Other receivables

thereof non-derivative receivables

Carrying 
amount

2011

795
5,351
768
361,221
676,553
59,514
36,237

thereof derivative financial instruments

23,277

21,500

Cash and cash equivalents

373,451

Financial liabilities

Liabilities to banks
Corporate bond
Other financial liabilities
Shareholder loan
Lease liabilities*
Trade payables
Other liabilities

thereof non-derivative liabilities

thereof liabilities from finance leases*

thereof derivative financial instruments

* as defined by IAS 17

2,509,889
487,508
7,333
643,132
446,789
634,092
452,691
180,226

254,723

17,742

768

795
5,351

676,553

36,237

795
5,351
768
362,319
676,553
59,514
36,237

23,277

373,451

2,509,889
388,750
7,333
530,045
446,326
634,092
452,427
180,226

254,459

17,742

2,509,889
487,508
7,333
643,132

634,092

180,226

2,471

The change in valuation allowances for lease receivables and trade receivables was as follows: 

Change in valuation allowances

€ thousand

Valuation allowances as at 1 January
Group changes
Additions (cost of valuation allowances)
Reversals
Utilisations
Currency translation adjustments

Valuation allowances as at 31 December

2012

2011

49,565
-483 
12,010
-2,829 
-7,573 
-158 

50,532

47,125
626
10,547
-3,092 
-5,425 
-216 

49,565

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 66 of 88 

The net gains and losses on financial instruments by IAS 39 category are as follows: 

Net gains and losses on financial instruments broken down by category 

€ thousand

Loans and receivables (LaR)

Available-for-sale investments (AfS)

Financial assets held for trading (FAHfT)

Financial liabilities held for trading (FLHfT)

Financial liabilities carried at amortised cost (FLaC)

2012

2011

-1,594 

2,062

13

13

8,950

14,360

-11,923 

-10,109 

-179,209 

-225,277 

The above gains and losses do not include losses arising on hedging transactions deferred in the period amount-
ing to €19,861 thousand (2011: €18,464 thousand) be cause these losses relate to a documented hedge. 

Fair value measurement  

The majority of the funding, loans, investments, other non-derivative receivables and liabilities, trade receivables 
and trade payables held by the Group have short-term maturities. The carrying amounts of these financial instru-
ments approximate their fair values. 

The fair value of the corporate bond that has been issued is determined using publicly listed market prices. The 
calculation is based on the offer price applicable on the reporting date. 

The fair value of receivables and liabilities from finance leases corresponds to the present value of the net lease 
payments, taking into account the current market interest rate for similar leases. 

The fair value of derivative financial instruments is determined using appropriate valuation methods on the basis 
of the observable market information at the reporting date. The fair value of interest rate swaps is calculated as 
the present value of the estimated future cash flows. The fair value of currency forwards is calculated on the basis 
of the forward rates at the reporting date. All interest-rate swaps and currency forwards are therefore classified as 
level 2 measurements. 
The fair value of the put and call options for the remaining shares of Linde Hydraulics was determined using the 
Black-Scholes  model.  The  main  input  variables  for  the  model  were  the  options'  exercise  price,  which  may  be 
modified  by  individual,  specific,  contractually  agreed  factors  if  necessary,  and  the  fair  value  of  the  remaining 
shares in Linde Hydraulics. As at 31 December 2012 the fair value of the put option was €19,740 thousa nd and 
the fair value of the call options was €16,520 thou sand. The exercise price of the put option is €77,4 29 thousand. 
The exercise price of the two call options totals € 116,143 thousand. The options are classified as level 3 meas-
urements. 

As at 31 December 2012 the net value calculated for the options on the remaining shares in Linde Hydraulics was 
€3,220 thousand. If the fair value of the shares ha d been 10 per cent lower on the reporting date, the net value for 
the options would have increased by €8,310 thousand  to a total of €11,530 thousand and resulted in an  additional 
gain of €8,310 thousand. An increase of 10 per cent
 in the fair value of the shares in Linde Hydraulics would have 
decreased the net value for the options by €9,010 t housand to a total of €5,790 thousand and would hav e result-
ed in an expense of €9,010 thousand. 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 67 of 88 

In order to eliminate default risk to the greatest possible extent, the KION Group only enters into derivatives with 
counterparties holding a good credit rating. 

With the exception of derivative financial instruments and available-for-sale assets, all financial assets and liabili-
ties are measured at amortised cost. 

The fair value of available-for-sale assets is determined on the basis of data in an active market and is classified 
as level 1.  

The following table shows the assignment of the fair values to the individual classification levels. 

Financial instruments measured at fair value  

€ thousand

Financial assets
  thereof available-for-sale
  thereof derivative instruments

Financial liabilities
  thereof derivative instruments

Financial instruments measured at fair value  

€ thousand

Financial assets
  thereof available-for-sale
  thereof derivative instruments

Financial liabilities
  thereof derivative instruments

Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

2012

768

4,202

19,740

27,050

16,520

24,710
768
23,942

43,570
43,570

Fair Value Hierarchy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

2011

768

23,277

17,742

24,045
768
23,277

17,742
17,742

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 68 of 88 

[ 37 ]  Financial risk reporting 

Capital management 

One of the prime objectives of capital management is to ensure liquidity at all times. Measures aimed at achieving 
these  objectives  include  the  optimisation  of  the  capital  structure,  the  reduction  of  liabilities  and  ongoing  Group 
cash flow planning and management. Following the amendment and extension of the SFA loan in July 2012, a 
further corporate bond was issued in February 2013 (see 'Credit terms' table in note [ 30 ]) in order to meet long-
term financing requirements. 

Close  cooperation  between  local  units  and  the  Group  head  office  ensures  that  the  local  legal  and  regulatory 
requirements faced by foreign group companies are considered in the capital management process. 

Net financial debt – defined as the difference between financial liabilities (excluding lease liabilities) and cash and 
cash  equivalents  –  is  the  key  performance  indicator  used  in  liquidity  planning  at  Group  level  and  amounted  to 
€1,790,074 thousand in 2012 (2011: 2,631,279). 

Credit risk  

In certain finance and operating activities, the KION Group is subject to credit risk, i.e. the risk that partners will 
fail  to  meet  their  contractual  obligations.  This  risk  is  limited  by  diversifying  business  partners  based  on  certain 
credit  ratings.  The  Group  only  enters  into  transactions  with  business  partners  and  banks  holding  a  good  credit 
rating and subject to fixed limits. Counterparty risks involving our customers are managed by the individual Group 
companies. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 69 of 88 

The following table shows the age structure of receivables as at the reporting date. 

Age structure analysis of receivables 

Carrying 
amount

Thereof: 
Neither 
overdue nor 
impaired at 
the reporting 
date

Thereof: 
Overdue and 
impaired at 
the reporting 
date

Thereof: 
Not impaired at the reporting 
date, but

up to and 
including
90 days 
overdue

more than
90 days
overdue

€ thousand

2012

Financial receivables
Lease receivables 
Trade receivables
Other non-derivative receivables

9,587
399,269
625,462
35,236

9,587
399,269
485,621
34,492

− 
16,835
734

− 
110,210
1

− 
5,499
9

€ thousand

2011

Financial receivables
Lease receivables 
Trade receivables
Other non-derivative receivables

5,351
361,221
676,553
36,237

5,351
361,221
539,560
35,189

− 
4,286
643

− 
117,666
− 

− 
10,727
41

Impairment losses are based on the credit risk related to the receivables and are assessed primarily using factors 
such as a customer’s credit rating and historical pattern of meeting payment terms.  

For certain receivables that were overdue as at the reporting date, but for which no impairment losses had been 
reported, the Company considered trade payables or collateral with the same counterparties. Apart from this item, 
the Group did not hold any significant collateral. 

Liquidity risk 

Based  on  IFRS  7,  a liquidity  risk  arises  if  a company is unable  to meet  its  financial liabilities.  The  KION  Group 
maintains a liquidity reserve in the form of lines of credit and cash in order to ensure financial flexibility and sol-
vency.  The  age  structure  of  financial  liabilities  is  reviewed  continuously  and  was  improved  by  amending  and 
extending  the  SFA  loan  in  July  2012  as  well  as  issuing  a  further  corporate  bond  in  February  2013  (see  'Credit 
terms' table in note [ 30 ]). 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 70 of 88 

The following table shows all of the contractually agreed payments under recognised financial liabilities as at 31 
December 2012, including derivative financial instruments with negative fair values. 

Liquidity analysis of financial liabilities and derivatives 

€ thousand

2012

Primary financial liabilities

Gross liabilities to banks
Borrowing costs
Net liabilities to banks

Corporate bond
Borrowing costs

Other financial liabilities
Shareholder loan
Trade payables
Lease liabilities
Other financial liabilities

Derivative financial liabilities
Derivatives with negative fair value
  + Cash in
  - Cash out

Carrying amount 
2012

Cash flow 
2013

Cash flow 
2014 - 2017

Cash flow 
from 2018

1,882,085
-23,637
1,858,448

500,000
-10,505
489,495

4,488
− 
646,044
475,015
459,542

27,050

-124,369

-1,994,386

-149,793

-33,677

-138,368

-517,912

-623
− 
-646,044
-166,802
-264,668

− 
− 
− 
-344,613
-217,889

-5,269 
− 
− 
-12,974 
-8,203 

438,150
-452,648

5,005
-13,751

− 
− 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 71 of 88 

Liquidity analysis of financial liabilities and derivatives 

€ thousand

2011

Primary financial liabilities

Liabilities to banks
Borrowing costs
Net liabilities to banks

Corporate bond
Borrowing costs

Other financial liabilities
Shareholder loan
Trade payables
Lease liabilities
Other financial liabilities

Derivative financial liabilities
Derivatives with negative fair value
  + Cash in
  - Cash out

Carrying amount 
2011

Cash flow 
2012

Cash flow 
2013 - 2016

Cash flow 
from 2017

2,530,064
-20,175
2,509,889

500,000
-12,492
487,508

7,333
643,132
634,092
446,789
434,948

17,742

-307,224

-2,643,650

− 

-34,864

-143,062

-556,723 

-3,397
− 
-634,092
-165,739
-274,716

− 
− 
− 
-312,512
-178,168 

-6,090 
-928,194 
− 
-11,905 
-6,788 

295,698
-291,278

32,127
-36,919

− 
− 

The calculation of future cash flows for derivative financial liabilities includes all currency forwards and interest-
rate swaps that have negative fair values as at the reporting date.  

Bank guarantee lines (e.g. sureties, performance bonds) had been issued under the ancillary facility agreements 
for a total amount in the low double-digit millions as at 31 December 2012. They included guarantees payable 'on 
first demand'. No guarantees were utilised in 2012. 

The volume of business for which factoring was used in 2012 was €20,024 thousand (2011: €17,844 thousa nd). 
Because all material risks and rewards are assigned to the purchaser, these assets are derecognised in full.       

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 72 of 88 

Default risk 

For financial assets, default risk is defined as the risk that a counterparty will default, and therefore is limited to a 
maximum  of  the  carrying  amount  of  the  assets  relating  to  the  counterparty  involved.  The  potential  default  risk 
attaching to financial assets is mitigated by secured forms of lending such as reservation of title, credit insurance 
and guarantees. 

Specific  valuation  allowances for  defaults  are  recognised to  reflect  the  risk  arising  from  primary  financial instru-
ments. Financial transactions are only entered into with selected partners holding good credit ratings. Investments 
in interest-bearing securities are limited to investment-grade securities.  

Risks from financial services 

The  KION  Group's  leasing activities  mean that  it may  be  exposed  to  residual  value  risks  from the marketing of 
machinery and equipment that is returned by the lessee at the end of a long-term lease and subsequently sold or 
re-leased. Residual values in the markets for used trucks are therefore constantly monitored and forecasted. 

KION regularly assesses its overall risk position arising from financial services, recognising write-downs, impair-
ments  or provisions  to cover  the  risks  it identifies.  It  immediately  takes  into  account of  any  changes in  residual 
values when calculating new leases. 

In  addition,  residual  values  are  mainly  based  on  remarketing  agreements  that  continued  to  achieve  positive 
outcomes in 2012. Under these agreements, any residual-value risk is transferred to the leasing company con-
cerned. Group-wide standards to ensure that residual values are calculated conservatively reduce risk and pro-
vide the basis on which to create the transparency required. KION also has an IT system for residual-value risk 
management. 

The  KION  Group  mitigates  its  liquidity  risk  and  interest-rate  risk  by  ensuring  that  most  of  its  transactions  and 
funding  loans  have  comparable  maturities.  Long-term  leases  are  primarily  based  on  fixed-interest  agreements. 
The credit facilities provided by various banks ensure that the Group has sufficient liquidity. 

In order to eliminate exchange-rate risk, KION generally funds its leasing business in the local currency used in 
each market. 

Because of low default rates, counterparty risk has not been significant to date in the KION Group. The Company 
did not identify any material year-over-year changes in 2012. KION's losses from defaults are also mitigated by its 
proceeds from the sale of repossessed trucks. In addition, it primarily offers financial services indirectly via select-
ed funding partners, and KION bears the counterparty risk in less than 5 per cent of cases. The credit risk man-
agement system was refined as part of the work involved in transferring financial services activities to a separate 
segment.  In  particular,  this  involved  revising  procedures  on  operational  and  organisational  structure  as  well  as 
processes for risk management and control. 

Exchange rate risk 

In accordance with its treasury risk policy, the KION Group hedges exchange rate risks both locally at the level of 
the individual companies and centrally via KION GROUP GmbH in order to meet the prescribed minimum hedging 
ratios.  

The  main  hedging  instruments  employed  are  foreign-currency  forwards,  provided  that  there  are  no  country-
specific restrictions on their use.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 73 of 88 

At  company  level,  hedges  are  entered  into  for  highly  probable  future  transactions  on  the  basis  of  a  rolling  15-
month forecast, as well as for firm obligations not reported in the statement of financial position. In accordance 
with IAS 39, these hedges are generally classified as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes (see note [ 38 ]). 

Foreign-currency forwards are also employed to hedge the exchange rate risks resulting from internal financing.  

The following table shows an overview of the foreign-currency forwards entered into by the KION Group. 

Foreign-currency forwards

Fair value

Notional amount

€ thousand

2012

2011

2012

2011

Foreign-currency forwards (assets)

Foreign-currency forwards (liabilities)

Hedge 
Trading

Hedge 
Trading

2,865
1,337

1,006
7,448

1,765
21,500

89,240
103,671

73,758
363,277

8,650
2,471

29,765
414,160

189,351
103,018

Significant exchange rate risks from financial instruments are measured on the basis of value at risk (VaR) as part 
of internal Group management. VaR figures are calculated using historical variance-covariance analyses. Correla-
tions and volatilities are calculated on the basis of the 250 working days prior to the reporting date (unweighted). 

Exchange rate risks from financial instruments as defined by IFRS 7, are only included in calculating value at risk 
if the financial instruments are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the reporting entity 
concerned. This means that exchange rate risks resulting from the translation of the separate financial statements 
of subsidiaries into the Group reporting currency, i.e. currency translation risk, are not included. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 74 of 88 

Value-at-Risk 

€ thousand

Currency risk

2012

2011

30,343

54,676

The value at risk in respect of currency risk as at 31 December 2012 was €30,343 thousand (31 December  2011: 
€54,676 thousand). Value at risk is the gain or los s that is not expected to be exceeded over a holding period of 
one year with a confidence level of 97.7 per cent (2011: 97.7 per cent). 

Interest-rate risk 

Interest-rate risk within the KION Group is managed centrally. The basis for decision-making includes sensitivity 
analyses of interest-rate risk positions in key currencies.  

The table below shows the cumulative effect of an increase or decrease of 100 basis points (bps) in the relevant 
interest-rate curves, with a rate of 0 per cent constituting the lower limit of the calculation. 

Interest-rate sensitivity

€ thousand

2012

2012

2011

2011

Other comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss)

16,020
-8,469 

-1,627 
8,469

28,702
-9,358 

-18,031 
9,358

+100 bps

-100 bps

+100 bps

-100 bps

The Group essentially funds itself by drawing down loans under its agreed credit facilities. Interest-rate derivatives 
– mainly interest-rate swaps – are used to hedge the resulting interest-rate risk. 

Interest-rate swaps 

€ thousand

Interest-rate swaps (assets)

Interest-rate swaps (liabilities)

Fair value

Notional amount

2012

2011

2012

2011

− 
− 

− 
− 

− 
− 

− 
− 

18,596
− 

6,621
− 

1,670,000
− 

2,070,000
− 

Hedge 
Trading

Hedge 
Trading

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 75 of 88 

[ 38 ]  Hedge accounting 

Hedging currency risk 

In  accordance  with  its  treasury  risk policy,  the  KION  Group  applies  hedge accounting  in hedging  the exchange 
rate  risks  arising  from  highly  probable  future  revenues  in  various  currencies.  Foreign-currency  derivatives  with 
settlement dates in the same month as the expected cash flows from the Group's operating activities are used as 
hedges.  

The effectiveness of the Group's hedging transactions is assessed on the basis of forward rates using the hypo-
thetical derivative approach under the cumulative dollar-offset method. The effective portion of the changes in the 
fair  value  of  foreign-currency  derivatives  is  recognised  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  and 
only reversed when the corresponding hedged item is recognised in income.  

Because of the short-term nature of the Group's payment terms, reclassifications to the income statement and the 
recognition of the corresponding cash flows generally take place in the same reporting period. A foreign-currency 
receivable  or  liability  is  recognised  when  goods  are  shipped  or  received.  Hedge  accounting  continues  until  the 
corresponding  payment is  received,  with  the  changes in  the  fair  value of  the  derivative being  recognised  in  the 
income statement, thereby largely offsetting the effect of the measurement of the receivable at the reporting date. 

The changes in fair value recognised and reclassified in other comprehensive income in 2012 are shown in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of the 
hedging transactions is recognised directly in the income statement. There were no significant ineffective portions 
in 2012. 

In  total,  foreign-currency  cash  flows  with  a  notional  amount  of  €114,329 thousand  (2011:  €263,109 thou
sand) 
were  hedged  and  designated  as  hedged  items,  of  which  €99,744 thousand  is  expected  by  30  September 2013  
(2011:  €187,298 thousand  by  30  September  2012).  The   remaining  cash  flows  designated  as  hedged  items  fall 
due in the period up to 24 February 2014. 

Hedging of interest-rate risk 

The KION Group uses hedge accounting in connection with the hedging of interest-rate risk. 

The  KION  Group  is  essentially  financed  by  the  utilisation  of  loans  with  variable  interest  rates  and  in  different 
currencies. Interest-rate derivatives denominated in various currencies were used to hedge the resulting interest-
rate  risk  in  2012.  Because  the  KION  Group  used  interest-rate  swaps  to  convert  48  per cent  of  its  variable-rate 
exposure into fixed-rate obligations as at the reporting date (31 December 2011: 51 per cent), it is not fully bene-
fiting from the low level of market interest rates. These swaps were designated as hedges at inception.  

The  effective  portion  of  the  hedges  was  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income  (loss).  As  in  the  previous 
year, the cumulative effectiveness of the hedging transactions was almost 100 per cent. As in 2011, there were 
no ineffective portions. 

ousand) 
In  total,  variable  portions  of  future  interest  payments  amounting  to  €6,340 thousand  (2011:  €27,196 th
were  designated  as  hedged  items,  of  which  €2,365 th ousand  are  due  by  30  September 2013  (2011: 
€8,126 thousand fell due by 30 September 2012). The  remaining cash flows designated as hedged items are due 
by 31 December 2014.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 76 of 88 

[ 39 ] 

Segment report 

The chief-operating decision makers divide the KION Group into the two brands Linde Material Handling (LMH) 
and STILL, as well as the financial services (FS) activities for management purposes. Segment reporting follows 
the  same  breakdown,  taking  into  account  the  relevant  organisational  structures  and  corporate  strategy  of  the 
KION Group. 

Since  2011  the  chief-operating  decision  makers  divided  the  KION  Group  into  the  LMH  and  STILL  brands  for 
management purposes and therefore for segment reporting. Starting in 2011 the KION Group had put in place the 
organisational structures required under the German Commercial Code (HGB) to enable it to manage and report 
the Group's financial services activities as a separate segment in 2012. The segment reporting in the notes to the 
2011  financial  statements  included  additional  voluntary  disclosures  based  on the  future  reporting  model.  These 
additional disclosures provide the basis for the comparative data. The new segment structure has been used for 
management purposes since the end of 2012. 

In  this  context,  separate  financial  services  companies  have  been  established  in  the  core  markets  of  Germany, 
France, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain. Further companies will be gradually introduced in countries with a high 
proportion  of  finance  and  leasing  business.  In  countries  with  lower  levels  of  FS  activity,  the  sales  and  service 
companies will continue to run the financial services operations. 

Description of the segments 

The Linde Material Handling (LMH) segment encompasses the Linde, Fenwick and Baoli brands. The remaining 
30 per cent held in Linde Hydraulics is allocated to the LMH segment at fair value and will be accounted for using 
the equity method on a going-forward basis. 

The STILL segment comprises the STILL and OM-STILL brands. 

FS activities include the financing of long-term leasing business for KION Group customers and risk management. 
When long-term leasing business is being conducted, FS operates as a contractual partner to external customers 
and  provides  the  necessary  refinancing  in  conjunction  with  external  financial  partners.  Besides  management  of 
residual-value  risk,  risk  management  also  includes  the  management  of  credit  risk.  In  addition,  FS  provides  the 
financing for short-term rental fleets on behalf of the LMH and STILL brand segments.  

The 'Other' segment comprises the companies operating under the Voltas brand as well as holding and service 
companies in the KION Group. Voltas is a KION Group brand company whose manufacturing is based in India 
and  whose  business  activities  focus  primarily  on  this  market.  The  service  companies  perform  cross-segment 
services  for  the  KION  Group.  The  bulk  of  the  revenue  in  this  segment  is  generated  by  internal  IT  and  logistics 
services rendered by the service companies. 

Segment management 

The key performance indicator used to manage the brand segments is 'adjusted EBIT'. Segment reporting there-
fore includes a reconciliation of externally reported consolidated earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) – includ-
ing KION acquisition items and non-recurring items – to the adjusted EBIT of the segments ('adjusted EBIT').  

The key performance indicator used to manage the FS segment is earnings before tax (EBT). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 77 of 88 

Intra-group transactions are generally conducted on an arm's-length basis. The regular (interest) margin income 
that  FS  generates  from  its  business  activities  reflects  prevailing  market  conditions.  Surpluses  from  the  leasing 
business that exceed this interest margin are reflected in the producer margin within the operating profit generat-
ed by the LMH and STILL brand segments. 

Segment  reports  are  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  same  accounting  policies  as  the  consolidated  financial 
statements, as described in note [ 8 ]. Contrary to these policies, however, the LMH and STILL brands' interseg-
ment sales to FS are always treated as revenue for the brand segments, irrespective of the possible remain of  
opportunities and risks. These sales always take place at market price. 

Assets  and  liabilities  associated  with  the  long-term  leasing  business  are  assigned  to  the  FS  segment.  The  ex-
penses  in  the  FS  segment's  income  statement  therefore  reflect,  in  particular,  depreciation/amortisation  of  the 
assets, interest expenses relating to the financing of these assets as well as operating expenses. These expens-
es  correspond  to  income  by  the  finance  instalments  paid  by  the  customer  (lease  payments  excluding  service 
portion). 

Whereas  the  main  feature  of  long-term  leasing  business  is  the  provision  of  a  financial  service  to  the  external 
lessee, the focus in short-term leasing is on the service function. External customers are offered rental trucks from 
a rental pool – including associated services – for short-term use. Unlike the situation in long-term leasing, finan-
cial performance in the short-term business is largely dependent on the achieved level of utilisation of the rental 
fleet, management of which lies entirely within the responsibility of the brand segments. Given this structure, the 
assets associated with the short-term business and the related income and expenses remain on the brand seg-
ments' income statement or statement of financial position.  

In an indirect leasing arrangement ('sale with risk'), the otherwise typical financing function of the FS segment as 
a lender for the leasing transaction no longer applies. As a result of the sale of the leased asset to the external 
finance provider in such transactions, the brand segments view the transactions in the same way as a sale to an 
end-user. Consequently, these transactions and all the revenue that they generate are recognised in the LMH and 
STILL brand segments. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 78 of 88 

The following tables show information on the KION Group's operating segments for 2012 and 2011: 

Segment report  

€ thousand

2012

LMH

STILL

Financial 
Services

Other

Consolidation/
Reconciliation

Total

Revenue from external customers
Intersegment revenue
Total revenue

2,903,163
229,084
3,132,247

1,483,832
192,758
1,676,590

296,755
212,571
509,326

42,914
208,023
250,937

−  4,726,664
− 
-842,436 
-842,436  4,726,664

Earnings before taxes

505,338

70,067

4,798

-205,643 

-63,932 

310,628

Financial income
Financial expense
= Financial result

EBIT

+ Non-recurring items
+ KION acquisition items

= Adjusted EBIT

Segment assets
Segment liabilities
Carrying amount of 
equity investments
Equity result
Capital expenditures*
Depreciation**
Order intake
Number of employees***

28,180
-46,258 
-18,078 

523,416

-226,053 
32,994

6,054
-34,089 
-28,035 

98,102

17,113
7,394

44,704
-41,308 
3,396

21,747
-215,224 
-193,477 

-38,601 
35,310
-3,291 

62,084
-301,569 
-239,485 

1,402

-12,166 

-60,641 

550,113

− 
− 

55,533
1,065

44,432

− 
− 

-153,407 
41,453

-60,641 

438,159

330,357

122,609

1,402

4,513,827
1,461,278

2,068,249
1,191,605

1,040,559
998,854

902,292
4,205,982

-2,311,687  6,213,240
-2,304,814  5,552,905

135,499
13,477
89,139
102,503
2,977,674
13,148

6,148
1,226
51,115
42,661
1,576,810
7,253

13,188
1,209
53
9
509,326
112

− 
− 
14,794
17,735
250,937
702

− 
− 
− 
− 

154,835
15,912
155,101
162,908
-614,671  4,700,076
21,215

− 

* Excluding leased assets and rental assets
** Omitted on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment excl. leased and rental assets
*** Number of employees in full-time equivalents as at 31 December

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 79 of 88 

Segment report  

LMH

STILL

Financial 
Services

Other

Consolidation/
Reconciliation

Total

€ thousand

2011

Revenue from external customers
Intersegment revenue
Total revenue

2,601,587
251,927
2,853,514

1,461,968
204,836
1,666,804

264,896
214,864
479,760

39,944
183,365
223,309

−  4,368,395
-854,992 
− 
-854,992  4,368,395

Earnings before taxes

Financial income
Financial expense
= Financial result

EBIT

+ Non-recurring items
+ KION acquisition items

= Adjusted EBIT

Segment assets
Segment liabilities
Carrying amount of 
equity investments
Equity result
Capital expenditures*
Depreciation**
Order intake
Number of employees***

246,450

-30,586 

6,160

-191,729 

-89,180 

-58,885 

29,380
-40,651 
-11,271 

5,804
-31,302 
-25,498 

45,360
-41,901 
3,459

32,371
-267,529 
-235,158 

257,721

-5,088 

2,701

-4,830 
26,468

97,308
7,960

− 
− 

279,359

100,180

2,701

43,429

23,005
1,537

67,971

-39,251 
35,674
-3,577 

73,664
-345,709 
-272,045 0

-85,603 

213,160

− 
− 

115,483
35,965

-85,603 

364,608

4,425,263
1,495,301

1,983,278
1,064,798

840,005
798,845

708,616
5,043,405

-1,890,876  6,066,286
-1,848,476  6,553,873

19,244
5,074
75,952
100,563
2,929,844
13,786

4,647
1,557
43,270
48,152
1,694,941
7,292

12,654
459
0
0
479,760
96

− 
− 
13,783
16,321
223,153
688

− 
− 
− 
− 

36,545
7,090
133,005
165,036
-645,842  4,681,856
21,862

− 

* Excluding leased assets and rental assets
**Omitted on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment excl. leased and rental assets
*** Number of employees in full-time equivalents as at 31 December

The table below gives a breakdown of revenue from external customers by region. 

Segment revenue broken down by customer location

€ thousand

Germany
EU excl. Germany
Rest of Europe
America
Asia
Rest of world

Total segment revenue

2012

2011

1,225,236
2,253,227
247,648
324,175
485,636
190,742

1,174,777
2,114,588
203,530
280,611
434,814
160,075

4,726,664

4,368,395

There are no relationships with individual customers that generate revenue deemed to be significant as a propor-
tion of total consolidated revenue. 

Financial  income  and  expenses  including  all  interest  income  and  expenses  are  described  in  notes  [  14  ]  and  
[ 15 ]. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 80 of 88 

The  non-recurring  items  mainly  comprised  costs  incurred  in  connection  with  severance  payments,  social  plan 
costs, costs relating to the relocation and closure of production sites and consultancy costs. They totalled €70,928 
thousand in 2012 (2011: €115,483 thousand). Also in cluded for 2012 are the gain from the disposal of the control-
ling  interest  (70  per  cent)  in  Linde  Hydraulics  (€- 103,071  thousand),  the  gain  from  the  remeasurement  of  the 
remaining shares (30 per cent) in Linde Hydraulics (€-108,692 thousand), the gain from the remeasureme nt of the 
shares  already  held  in  Linde  Creighton  Ltd.,  which  were  previously  accounted  for  using  the  equity  method,  (€-
8,015 thousand) and the gain from the remeasurement of purchase price obligations (€-4,557 thousand). 
In 2012 
material  non-recurring  items  amounting  to  €-107,092   thousand  were  non-cash  items.  In  the  segment  LMH  the 
non-cash  items  result  in  an  income  of  €-109,397  tho usand  and  in  the  segment  STILL  €-5,825  thousand.  Th e 
segment other includes non-cash expenses amounting to €8,130 thousand. The KION acquisition items comp rise 
depreciation, amortisation and impairment charges on the fair value adjustments identified as part of the purchase 
price allocation (PPA).   

The assets attributable to the Financial Services segment include long-term leases which were reported as either 
leased assets or lease receivables, depending on the type of lease. At the reporting date, lease receivables due 
from  unrelated  third  parties  amounted  to  €379,946  t housand  (31  December  2011:  €361,225  thousand).  Ther e 
were  also intra-group  lease  receivables  of  €373,354   thousand  (31  December 2011:  €300,046  thousand),  wh ich 
primarily resulted from the funding of the short-term rental business of LMH and STILL. 

KION  Group’s  consolidated  statement  of  financial  position  include  liabilities  to  leasing  companies  arising  from 
procurement  leases,  from  financing  of  the  rental  fleet  and  from  agreements  classified  as  ‘sale  with  risk’  in  the 
d), which are reported as other financial liabilities. Thereof 
amount of €300,340 thousand (2011: €254,723 thousan
€260,154 thousand (2011: €222,245 thousand) are all
ocated to the liabilities of Financial Services. The segment 
liabilities  attributable  to  the  financial  services  business  also  include  liabilities  to  external  leasing  companies  of 
  from  finance  lease  obligations  from  sale-and-leaseback 
€470,180  thousand  (2011:  €446,789  thousand)  arising
transactions  for  the  funding  of  long-term  leases  with  customers,  which  are  reported  as  lease  liabilities  in  the 
consolidated  financial  statements.  Moreover,  they  include  net  financial  debt  of  €174,853  thousand  (201 1: 
€127,337 thousand) arising from general financing o f the Financial Services segment.  

The  equity-accounted  investment  (45  per  cent)  in  Linde  Leasing  GmbH,  Wiesbaden,  was  allocated  to  the  FS 
segment  when  the  new  segment  reporting  model  was  introduced.  The  purpose  of  Linde  Leasing  GmbH  is  to 
provide financial services and it is therefore assigned to the FS segment. 

Capital expenditures of the Financial Services segment includes additions to intangible assets and property, plant 
and equipment. Leased assets are described in note [ 19 ].  

Capital expenditures broken down by company location (excl. leased and rental assets)

€ thousand

Germany
EU excl. Germany
Rest of Europe
America
Asia
Rest of world

Total capital expenditures

2012

2011

104,966
30,452
733
8,411
9,915
624

92,340
27,796
233
5,849
5,378
1,409

155,101

133,005

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 81 of 88 

Depreciation/amortisation relates to intangible assets with finite useful lives and property, plant and equipment. 
The  regional  breakdown  of  non-current  assets  excluding  financial  assets,  financial  instruments,  deferred  tax 
assets and post-employment benefits is as follows: 

Non-current assets broken down by company location

€ thousand

Germany
EU excl. Germany
Rest of Europe
America
Asia
Rest of world

Total non-current assets (IFRS 8)

[ 40 ]  Employees 

2012

2011

2,552,611
695,537
27,858
46,240
122,176
49,544

2,703,550
665,590
24,492
34,672
116,428
48,671

3,493,966

3,593,403

The  KION  Group  employed  an  average  of  22,232  people  in  the  reporting  year  (2011:  20,797).  The  number  of 
employees (including part-time employees expressed as a proportion of full-time equivalents) is broken down by 
region as follows: 

Employees (average)

Germany
France
UK
Italy
Rest of Europe
Asia
Rest of world

Total employees

2012

2011

8,497
3,245
1,807
884
3,443
3,243
1,113

8,145
3,196
1,423
1,030
3,194
2,816
993

22,232

20,797

The number of employees increased by 300 due to the first-time consolidation of Linde Creighton Ltd., Basing-
stoke, United Kingdom. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 82 of 88 

[ 41 ]  Related party disclosures 

In  addition  to  the  subsidiaries  included  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  the  KION  Group  has  direct  or 
indirect business relationships with a number of unconsolidated subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates in the 
course of its ordinary business activities. The related parties that are controlled by the KION Group, that are able 
to exert a significant influence over the KION Group, or are members of the Superlift group are either included in 
the list of shareholdings (annex to these notes) or in the table below. 

Related parties

Superlift Holding S.à r.l., Luxembourg
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., New York, USA
Goldman, Sachs & Co., New York, USA
Superlift Funding S.à r.l., Luxembourg
Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Weifang, China

Parent company
Entity with significant influence 
Entity with significant influence
Affiliated company
Entity with significant influence 

Superlift Funding S.à r.l., Luxembourg 

Under a supplementary loan agreement dated 23 September 2009, investment funds advised by Kohlberg Kravis 
Roberts & Co. L.P. ('KKR') and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners extended the SFA to include an additional loan 
of €100,000 thousand to be paid via Superlift Fundi ng S.à r.l., Luxembourg. The purpose of the supplementary 
loan  was  to  further strengthen  the operational and  strategic  options  for  the  KION  Group.  Both  the loan  amount 
and the associated interest are repayable as a bullet payment on maturity (payment in kind, 'PIK'). The carrying 
amount of the loan including accrued interests was €115,951 thousand as at 31 December 2012 (31 Decemb er 
2011: €111,210 thousand). 

Shareholder loan agreement 

On 27 December 2006, KION Holding 1 GmbH (then Neggio Holding 1 GmbH) entered into a shareholder loan 
agreement with Superlift Holding S.à r.l., Luxembourg, for €500,000 thousand of principal. The shareho lder loan, 
amounting to €670,784 thousand (including accrued i nterest), was converted into equity with effect from 27 De-
cember 2012. 

Disposal of a significant part of the hydraulics business 

The KION Group sold its controlling interest of 70 per cent in Linde Hydraulics to Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Wei-
fang, China, for a consideration of €271,000 thousa nd with effect from 27 December 2012. As part of the transac-
tion, Weichai Power granted LMH GmbH a put option on the remaining shares in Linde Hydraulics. LMH GmbH 
also granted Weichai Power two call options relating to the shares. For further information, please refer to note     
[ 6 ]. 

Advisory agreement 

On 8 May 2007, KION GROUP GmbH, Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. ('KKR') and Goldman, Sachs & Co. 
entered  into  an  advisory  agreement  under  the  terms  of  which  KKR  and  Goldman  Sachs  undertook  to  perform 
advisory  services  for  the  KION  Group.  These  advisory  services  relate,  in  particular,  to  financial  and  strategic 
issues. The annual advisory fee payable to KKR and Goldman, Sachs & Co. is €4,763 thousand (2011: €4,6 24 
thousand) and it has been recognised as an expense.    

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 83 of 88 

Under the terms of the adjustment and extension of the SFA loan, an advisory fee totalling €2,015 thou sand was 
paid to KKR and Goldman, Sachs & Co. This fee has been allocated pro rata as transaction costs to each of the 
tranches and is expensed over their respective new terms.  

Goldman & Sachs AG, Frankfurt am Main, also provided additional advisory services totalling €11,500 th ousand 
in connection with the new shareholder Weichai Power and the sale of the hydraulics business.  

As at the reporting date, the receivables due from related parties were as follows: 

Receivables from related parties 

€ thousand

Non-consolidated subsidiaries 
Associates
Joint ventures
Other related parties

Total receivables from related parties

As at the reporting date, liabilities to related parties were as follows: 

Liabilities to related parties 

€ thousand

Non-consolidated subsidiaries 
Associates
Joint ventures
Other related parties

Total liabilities to related parties

2012

2011

7,421
10,845
2,622
5,901

26,789

4,403
17,262
2,964
4,825

29,454

2012

2011

4,845
35,861
6,051
132,529

4,188
39,955
4,719
769,255

179,286

818,117

[ 42 ]  KION management partnership plan ('MPP') 

Arrangements  for  management  to  invest  in  the  Company  have  been  in  place  since  2007.  These  arrangements 
are  governed  by  the  'Shareholders'  and  co-investment  agreement  on  the  implementation  of  the  management 
partnership  plan  for  the  KION  Group'  (the  co-invest  agreement)  dated  14  June 2007,  entered  into  by  Superlift 
Holding  S.à  r.l.,  KION  Holding  1  GmbH  and  KION  Management  Beteiligungs  GmbH  &  Co.  KG.  The  managers 
who  have  joined  the  management  partnership  plan  also  became  parties  to  the  co-invest  agreement  in  2007, 
2008, 2010 and 2011. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 84 of 88 

Taking account of the approved capital increase and the conversion of the shareholder loan, KION Management 
Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG holds an equity interest of 5.711 per cent (2011: 14.61 per cent) in KION Holding 1 
GmbH. In total, the Executive Board holds an interest of €2,800 thousand in the limited partner capita l of KION 
Management Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, which equals to an indirect interest of 1.066 per cent (2011: 3.31 per 
cent) in the share capital of KION Holding 1 GmbH. In addition to the KION Group's Executive Board, around 300 
executives  around  the  world  have  purchased  shares  in  KION  Management  Beteiligungs  GmbH  &  Co.  KG.  The 
shares are sold at their fair value and shareholdings are divided into virtual 'A', 'B', and 'C' shares. Different terms 
and conditions concerning payment of the purchase price and rights to purchase attach to these virtual shares. 
The  purchase  price  for  'A'  shares  became  payable  when  participants  joined  the  programme,  while  KION  Man-
agement Beteiligungs GmbH granted participants interest-bearing loans for the purchase price of the 'B' and 'C' 
shares. The vesting conditions and resulting purchase rights for 'B' shares accrue to participants in equal, annual 
tranches over a period of five years. By contrast, managers become eligible to purchase 'C' shares if the targets 
for  revenue,  EBITA  and  operating  cash  flow  set  in  the  business  plan  are  achieved  over  a  five-year  period  or 
predefined target returns are achieved if the Group is sold or there is a change of control. 

In  2010,  the  performance-related  vesting  conditions  for  the  'C'  shares  relating  to  the  2009–2012  bonus  period 
were  adjusted  to  take into account  of  the  revised  long-term  KION  business  plan,  which  is  in  turn  based  on  the 
amended  loan  terms  in  the  supplementary  agreement  to  the  SFA  dated  23  September  2009.  The  change  in 
vesting  conditions  affects  a  total  of  1,034  shares  with  an  expected  exercise  price  of  €16  thousand  eac h.  The 
articles of association expire on 31 December 2016. The vesting period ended on 31 December 2012. The total 
fair value of this adjustment was €1,044 thousand.  The fair value of the individual purchase rights amounted to €1 
thousand. The number of purchase options outstanding as at the reporting date remained unchanged at 1,034, of 
which 876 (31 December 2011: 584) were exercisable. 

Expenses of €159 thousand were incurred by the mana gement partnership plan in 2012 (2011: €295 thousan d).  

[ 43 ]  Remuneration of key management 

Executive Board 

Gordon Riske, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is responsible, among other things, for the strategic management 
of the Group, communications, governance and compliance. On 11 January 2013 he also took over responsibility 
for KION Warehouse Systems and internal audit. 

On 31 December 2012 Otmar Hauck, until then Chief Operating Officer (COO) of KION GROUP GmbH, Wiesba-
den, stepped down from the Executive Board of the KION Group. He had been responsible for quality and central 
operations (operational excellence & production control), purchasing, logistics, health & safety and environmental 
issues in the Group.  

Klaus Hofer stepped down from the Executive Board of the KION Group on 10 January 2013. As Chief Human 
Resources Officer (CHRO), he had been responsible for human resources, legal affairs and internal audit. 

Bert-Jan Knoef is CEO of the brand company STILL GmbH and, since 11 January 2013, has also overseen all 
cross-brand logistics activities and managed the intra-group logistics service provider, Urban. 

Theodor Maurer is CEO of the brand company Linde Material Handling GmbH and, since 11 January 2013, has 
also held cross-brand responsibility for quality, facility management, health, safety and the environment. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 85 of 88 

Harald Pinger, who had been Chief Financial Officer (CFO), stepped down from the Executive Board of the KION 
Group on 31 August 2012. 

Ching Pong Quek was appointed Chief Asia Pacific Officer with effect from 11 January 2013 and heads up the 
KION Group's entire Asia business.   

Dr Thomas Toepfer, who has been Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since 1 September 2012, is responsible, among 
other  things,  for  finance  (including  financial  services)  and  IT  activities.  On  11  January  2013  he  also  took  over 
responsibility for purchasing and the role of Labour Relations Director. 

The remuneration paid to the Executive Board comprises a fixed salary and non-cash benefits, pension entitle-
ments and performance-related components. The variable performance-related components are paid each year 
on the basis of the Group's performance. The pension entitlements consist of retirement, invalidity and surviving 
dependants' benefits.  

The  total  remuneration  paid  to  the  members  of  the  Executive  Board  in  2012  amounted  to  €12,026 thousand  
(2011: €5,209 thousand). This consisted of short-te rm remuneration amounting to €5,551 thousand (2011:
thousand),  post-employment  benefits  totalling  €436  thousand  (2011:  €386 thousand),  termination  benefit s  of 
€6,000 thousand (2011: €0 thousand)  and share-base d payments of €39 thousand (2011: €68 thousand). Th
e 
current  service  cost  resulting  from  pension  provisions  for  the  Executive  Board  is  reported  under  the  retirement 
benefit obligation. No loans or advances were made to members of the Executive Board in 2012 (2011: loans and 
advances totalling €0 thousand).  

 €4,755 

The  total  remuneration  paid  to  former  members  of  the  Executive  Board  in  2012  amounted  to  €165 thousand  
(2011:  €162  thousand).  Provisions  for  pension  oblig ations  to  former  members  of  the  Executive  Board  or  their 
surviving  dependants  amounting  to  €3,636 thousand  ( 2011:  €2,819  thousand)  were  recognised  in  accordanc e 
with IAS 19. 

Supervisory Board 

The total remuneration paid to the members of the Supervisory Board for the performance of their duties at the 
). 
parent  company  and  subsidiaries  in  2012  amounted  to  €953 thousand  including  VAT  (2011:  €1,071 thousand
There were no loans or advances to members of the Supervisory Board in 2012. Furthermore, the members of 
the Supervisory Board did not receive any remuneration or benefits for services provided as individuals, such as 
consulting or brokerage activities. 

In  addition  the  members  of  the  Supervisory  Board    receive  for  services  short-term  employee  benefits    totalled 
€550 thousand in 2012 (2011: €539 thousand). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 86 of 88 

[ 44 ]  Members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board  

Executive Board 

Gordon Riske 
CEO 

Klaus Hofer 
(until 10 January 2013) 
CHRO 

Bert-Jan Knoef 
(since 11 January 2013) 
Member of the Executive Board / CEO, STILL 

Theodor Maurer 
(since 11 January 2013) 
Member of the Executive Board / CEO, LMH 

Harald Pinger 
(until 31 August 2012) 
CFO 

Ching Pong Quek 
(since 11 January 2013) 
Chief Asia Pacific Officer 

Dr Thomas Toepfer 
(since 1 September 2012) 
CFO 

Supervisory Board 

Dr John Feldmann 
(Chairman of the Supervisory Board) 
Chief executive officer of the non-profit Hertie Foundation, Frankfurt am Main, member of the Supervisory Board 
and member of the Supervisory Board's Presiding Committee at Bilfinger Berger SE, Mannheim  

Joachim Hartig1 
Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board 
Chairman of the Plant I & II Works Council, Linde Material Handling GmbH, Aschaffenburg 

Holger Brandt1 
(since 19 March 2012) 
Head of After Sales STILL Group, STILL GmbH, Hamburg 

Dr Alexander Dibelius 
Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs AG, Frankfurt am Main 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 87 of 88 

Denis Heljic1 
(until 19 March 2012) 
Deputy Chairman of the Works Council of STILL GmbH, Dortmund plant 
Service Technician at STILL, Dortmund plant 

Dr Martin Hintze 
Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, London 

Johannes P. Huth 
Member of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., New York 

Jiang Kui 
(since 27 December 2012) 
President of Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd., Jinan, China 

Thilo Kämmerer1 
Trade Union Secretary, IG Metall, Bamberg Administrative Office 

Dr Roland Köstler1 
Head of Business Law at Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf 

Peter Kolb1 
(until 19 March 2012) 
Head of Facility Management, Linde Material Handling GmbH, Aschaffenburg 

Kay Pietsch1 
Chairman of the KION Group Works Council and Chairman of the Works Council of STILL GmbH, Hamburg 

Silke Scheiber 
Member of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., New York 

Dr Michael Süß 
(until 26 December 2012) 
Member of the Managing Board and CEO of the Energy Sector of Siemens AG, Munich 

Hans-Peter Weiß1 
(since 19 March 2012) 
Chairman of the Plant III Works Council, Linde Material Handling GmbH, Kahl 

1 Employee representatives 

[ 45 ]  Auditors' fees 

The  fees  recognised  as  an  expense  and  paid  to  the  auditors  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  in  2012 
  the  audit  of  the  financial  statements,  €650  thousa nd 
amounted  to  €960  thousand  (2011:  €970  thousand)  for
(2011: €892 thousand) for other attestation service s, €444 thousand (2011: €206 thousand) for tax cons
ultancy 
services and €45 thousand (2011: €63 thousand) for  other services. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 

Page 88 of 88 

[ 46 ]  Events after the reporting date 

The  KION  Group  issued  a  corporate  bond  for  €650,000  thousand  through  the  consolidated  subsidiary  KION 
Finance  S.A.,  Luxembourg,  in  February  2013.  Of  the  bond's  total  par  value  of  €650,000 thousand, 
€450,000 thousand is repayable at a fixed interest  rate of 6.75 per cent p.a., while €200,000 thousand  carries a 
floating interest rate based on three-month Euribor plus a margin of 4.5 percentage points. The payout amount for 
the variable portion was €1,000 thousand below the  par value (discount). The interest on the fixed-rate tranche is 
paid  semi-annually,  while  interest  on  the  floating-rate  tranche  is  paid  once  a  quarter.  The  bond's  principal  is 
d was 
redeemed as a bullet payment on maturity. Of the total proceeds of €649,000 thousand, €636,000 thousan
used  to  repay  existing  senior  facility  agreement  (SFA)  liabilities  and  €13,000  thousand  will  be  used  t o  pay  the 
expected transaction costs. 

[ 47 ] 

Information on preparation and approval 

The Executive Board of KION Holding 1 GmbH prepared the consolidated financial statements on 13 March 2013 
and  approved  them  for  forwarding to  the  Supervisory  Board.  The  Supervisory  Board  has the  task  of examining 
and deciding whether to approve the consolidated financial statements.    

Wiesbaden, 13 March 2013 

The Executive Board 

Gordon Riske 

Bert-Jan Knoef 

Theodor Maurer 

Ching Pong Quek 

Dr Thomas Toepfer 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

List of shareholdings for the year ended 31 December 2012 

List of shareholdings as of December 31, 2012

according to section 313 para. 2 No. 1-4 Commercial Code (HGB)

No.

   Name

Registered office

Country

Parent 
company

Holding 
in (%)

Equity, 
Local 
GAAP, 
TEUR

Earnings,
Local GAAP, 

TEUR Note

1 KION Holding 1 GmbH

Wiesbaden

Germany

1,299,794

-33,574

Annex to the notes 

Consolidated affiliated companies

Domestic

2 BlackForxx GmbH

3 Eisenwerk Weilbach GmbH

4 Fahrzeugbau GmbH Geisa

5 KION Financial Services GmbH

6 KION GROUP GmbH

7 KION Holding 2 GmbH

8 KION Information Management Services GmbH

9 KION Warehouse Systems GmbH

10 Klaus Pahlke GmbH & Co. Fördertechnik KG

11 Linde Material Handling GmbH

12 LMH Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG

13 LMH Immobilien Holding GmbH & Co. KG

14 LMH Immobilien Holding Verwaltungs-GmbH

15 LMH Immobilien Verwaltungs-GmbH

16 OM Deutschland GmbH

17 Schrader Industriefahrzeuge GmbH & Co. KG

18 STILL Financial Services GmbH

19 STILL Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

Stuhr

Wiesbaden

Geisa

Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden

Reutlingen

Haan

Aschaffenburg

Aschaffenburg

Aschaffenburg

Aschaffenburg

Aschaffenburg

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Neuhausen a.d. Fildern Germany

Essen

Hamburg

Hamburg

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Australia

Belgium

Brazil

China

China

Denmark

France

France

France

France

France

France

France

France

France

France

France

20 Urban-Transporte Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

Unterschleißheim

Foreign

21 Linde Material Handling Pty. Ltd.

22 STILL N.V.

Huntingwood

Wijnegem

23 KION South America Fabricação de Equipamentos para Armazenagem Rio de Janeiro

Ltda.

24 KION Baoli (Jiangsu) Forklift Co., Ltd.

25 Linde (China) Forklift Truck Corporation Ltd.

26 STILL DANMARK A/S

27 BARTHELEMY MANUTENTION SAS

28 Bastide Manutention SAS

29 Bretagne Manutention S.A.

30 FENWICK FINANCIAL SERVICES SAS

31 FENWICK-LINDE S.A.R.L.

32 KION France SERVICES SAS

33 LOIRE OCEAN MANUTENTION SAS

34 Manuchar S.A.

35 MANUSOM SAS

36 OM PIMESPO FRANCE S.A.S.

37 SAS Société Angoumoisine de Manutention - SAMA

Jiangjiang

Xiamen

Kolding

Vitrolles

Toulouse

Pacé

Elancourt

Elancourt

Elancourt

Saint-Herblain

Gond Pontouvre

Rivery

Mitry Mory

Champniers

38 SM Rental SAS

39 STILL Location Services SAS

40 STILL SAS

41 KION FINANCIAL SERVICES Ltd.

42 Linde Castle Ltd.

43 Linde Creighton Ltd.

44 Linde Heavy Truck Division Ltd.

45 Linde Holdings Ltd.

46 Linde Jewsbury’s Ltd.

47 Linde Material Handling (UK) Ltd.

48 Linde Material Handling East Ltd.

49 Linde Material Handling Scotland Ltd.

50 Linde Material Handling South East Ltd.

51 Linde Severnside Ltd.

52 Linde Sterling Ltd.

53 McLEMAN FORK LIFT SERVICES LTD.

54 OM PIMESPO (UK) Ltd.

55 STILL Materials Handling Ltd.

56 Superlift UK Ltd.

57 Trifik Services Ltd.

58 KION ASIA (HONG KONG) Ltd.

59 Linde Material Handling Hong Kong Ltd.

60 Voltas Material Handling Private Limited

61 Linde Material Handling (Ireland) Ltd.

62 COMMERCIALE CARRELLI S.r.l.

63 KION Rental Services S.p.A.

64 Linde Material Handling Italia S.p.A.

65 OM Carrelli Elevatori S.p.A.

Roissy Charles de Gaulle France

Marne la Vallée

Marne la Vallée

France

France

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Exeter

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Kwai Chung

Kwai Chung

Pune

Walkinstown

Lainate

Milan

Buguggiate

Lainate

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

Hong-Kong

Hong-Kong

India

Ireland

Italy

Italy

Italy

Italy

19

11

19

11

7

1

6

19

11

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

757

288

7,329

1,558

0 [B]

0 [A]

0 [B]

0 [A]

100.00%

485,611

-57,802

100.00%

1,115,331

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

129

22,670

12,177

0 [E]

0 [D]

0 [B]

2,502

6

100.00%

461,786

180,264

11 & 13

99.64%

42,361

14,196

11

11

11

65

11

94.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

5

100.00%

247

29

29

-2,041

2,322

1,533

11

11

100.00%

206,247

100.00%

3,181

67

2

1

-876 [R]

2,378

0 [C]

0 [A]

0 [A]

11

100.00%

19 & 69

100.00%

19

100.00%

42,965

7,373

19,730

100.00%

23,242

100.00%

149,653

3,519

1,911

1,451

-3,518

39,518

437

1,229

689

3,689

0

22,570

9,193

2,842

1,613

193

-156 [R]

777

870

48

586

1,119

3,050

-16,583

4,102

2,131

5,811

1,928

1,325

-277

854

1,828

153 [1]

-23 [R]

-3,027

-8,320

0 [R]

-433

803

-1,697

-376

-42

-84

417

-10,618

22,319

28,660

100.00%

272,483

32 & 11

100.00%

58

11

19

31

31

31

32

11

31

31

40

65

40

31

32

32

56

47

47

47

56

47

45

47

47

47

47

47

43

65

56

11

47

11

11

83

45

100.00%

88.40%

100.00%

54.27%

100.00%

100.00%

87.81%

100.00%

50.13%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

67 & 63

100.00%

64 & 65 & 67

100.00%

11

100.00%

11 & 67

100.00%

4,890

3,265

2,517

7,226

2,336

183,867

122,828

4,725

3,416

676

-384

14,332

1,447

869

3,783

4,927

10,722

49,910

8,442

86,909

477

7,956

2,497

8,112

9,686

1,552

-226

-21,676

45,616

0

29,085

3,171

15,416

5,905

483

6,662

16,209

45,161

 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

List of shareholdings for the year ended 31 December 2012 

No.

   Name

Registered office

Country

Annex to the notes 

Parent 
company

Holding 
in (%)

Equity, 
Local 
GAAP, 
TEUR

Earnings,
Local GAAP, 

TEUR Note

Consolidated affiliated companies

Foreign

66 QUALIFT S.p.A. (formerly: Cailotto Carrelli S.p.A.)

67 STILL ITALIA S.p.A.

68 KION Finance S.A.

69 STILL Intern Transport B.V.

70 AUSTRO OM PIMESPO Fördertechnik GmbH

71 Linde Fördertechnik GmbH

72 STILL Ges.m.b.H.

73 Linde Material Handling Polska Sp. z o.o.

74 STILL POLSKA Spólka z o.o.

75 OOO "Linde Material Handling Rus"

76 OOO "STILL Forklifttrucks"

77 STILL MOTOSTIVUITOARE S.R.L.

78 Linde Material Handling AB

79 STILL Sverige AB

80 Linde Lansing Fördertechnik AG

81 STILL AG

82 KION South Asia Pte. Ltd.

83 Linde Material Handling Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.

84 Linde Material Handling Slovenska republika s.r.o.

85 STILL SR, spol. s r.o.

86 Linde Vilicar d.o.o.

87 IBER-MICAR S.L.

88 Islavista Spain S.A.U.

89 KION Rental Services S.A.U.

90 Linde Holding de Inversiones S.R.L.

91 Linde Material Handling Ibérica, S.A.U.

92 STILL, S.A.U.

93 Linde Material Handling (Pty) Ltd.

94 Linde Material Handling Ceská republika s r.o.

95 Linde Pohony s r.o.

96 STILL CR spol. s r.o.

97 Linde Magyarország Anyagmozgatási Kft.

98 STILL Kft.

Verona

Lainate

Italy

Italy

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Hendrik Ido Ambacht

Netherlands

Linz

Linz

Wiener Neudorf

Warsaw

Gadki

Moscow

Moscow

Giurgiu

Örebro

Stockamöllan

Dietlikon

Otelfingen

Singapore

Singapore

Trencin

Nitra

Celje

Gava

Austria

Austria

Austria

Poland

Poland

Russia

Russia

Romania

Sweden

Sweden

Switzerland

Switzerland

Singapore

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

L’Hospitalet de Llobregat Spain

L’Hospitalet de Llobregat Spain

Pallejá

Pallejá

Spain

Spain

L’Hospitalet de Llobregat Spain

South Africa

Linbro Park

Prague

Prague

Dunaharaszti

Környe

Hungary

Hungary

64

19

-

19

65

100.00%

100.00%

-

100.00%

100.00%

11 & 70

100.00%

19

11

19

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

11 & 3

100.00%

11 & 19

100.00%

11 & 19

100.00%

11

19

11

19

11

11

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

11 & 94

100.00%

19 & 96

100.00%

11

11

11

88

88

90

88

11

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

11

19

11

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

1,097

8,240

27

15,908

9,845

10,130

4,710

15,907

13,131

5,125

1,659

664

39,818

2,208

13,585

7,829

-58

-436

-105

-2 [4]

4,377

-26

919

957

3,117

2,475

303

434

131

8,162

20

3,082

2,837

-58 [3]

30,545

1,461

2,467

1,360

1,396

3,102

26,895

3,060

31,079

47,517

15,101

19,543

8,736

37,665

5,778

1,409

1,349

-2,701

416

136

32

58

-5,506

378

6

1,355

-791

1,939

2,098

9,836

1,635

172

310

1,817

Ceský Krumlov

Czech Republic

11

100.00%

Czech Republic

11 & 19

100.00%

Czech Republic

11 & 19

100.00%

99 Linde Material Handling North America Corporation

Summerville

United States

Non-consolidated affiliated companies

Domestic

100 Klaus Pahlke Betriebsführungs-GmbH

101 proplan Transport- und Lagersysteme GmbH

102 Schrader Industriefahrzeuge Verwaltung GmbH

Foreign

Haan

Aschaffenburg

Essen

Germany

Germany

Germany

11

100.00%

1

100.00%

11

100.00%

46

573

72

103 Lansing Bagnall (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.

Huntingwood

Australia

47 & 11

100.00%

2,194

104 Baoli France SAS

105 SCI Champ Lagarde

106 URBAN LOGISTIQUE SAS

107 Castle Lift Trucks Ltd.

108 Creighton Materials Handling Ltd.

109 D.B.S. Brand Factors Ltd.

110 Fork Truck Rentals Ltd.

111 Fork Truck Training Ltd.

112 Lancashire (Fork Truck) Services Ltd.

113 Stephensons Enterprise Fork Trucks Ltd.

114 Sterling Mechanical Handling Ltd.

115 Urban Logistics (UK) Ltd.

Elancourt

Elancourt

Elancourt

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

Basingstoke

France

France

France

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

116 Handling & Storage Equipment (Ireland) Ltd.

Walkinstown

Ireland

117 Carest SRL

118 Milano Carrelli Elevatori S.r.l.

119 URBAN LOGISTIKA S.R.L.

Lainate

Monza

Lainate

Italy

Italy

Italy

32

31

20

47

47

52

47

47

52

52

47

20

61

65

65

20

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

131

104

1,437

846

0

0

356

0

0

0

1,240

473

0

10

14

48

1 [1]

0 [E]

4 [1]

0 [1]

-166 [3]

0 [1]

227 [1]

1,046 [1]

0 [1], [R]

0 [1], [R]

0 [1], [R]

0 [1], [R]

0 [1], [R]

0 [1], [R]

0 [1], [R]

127 [1]

0 [1], [R]

-1 [1], [R]

-7 [1], [R]

6 [1]

 
 
 
 
KION Holding 1 GmbH                             

List of shareholdings for the year ended 31 December 2012 

No.

   Name

Registered office

Country

Annex to the notes 

Parent 
company

Holding 
in (%)

Equity, 
Local 
GAAP, 
TEUR

Earnings,
Local GAAP, 

TEUR Note

Non-consolidated affiliated companies

Foreign

120 TOO "Linde Material Handling Kazakhstan"

121 Linde Viljuskari d.o.o.

122 STILL VILICAR d.o.o.

123 Baoli Material Handling Ceská republika s r.o.

Almaty

Belgrade

Ljubljana

Teplice

Kazakhstan

Serbia

Slovenia

Czech Republic

124 Urban Transporte spol. s.r.o.

Moravany u Brna

Czech Republic

11 & 3

100.00%

71

19

94

20

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

125 TOV "Linde Material Handling Ukraine"

Kiev

Ukraine

11 & 3

100.00%

117

86

-1,087

-58

1,666

783

8,470

5,604

30,805

-

1,017

16,048

11,862

-31

15 [1]

-91 [1]

-65

812 [1]

-261

3,126 [1]

3,504 [1]

2,687 [1]

- [3]

71 [1]

290 [1]

4,025 [1]

Hagelstadt

Hamburg

Wiesbaden

Aschaffenburg

Blankenhain

Kerpen

Bremen

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

25.00%

21.00%

45.00%

30.00%

25.00%

24.96%

23.00%

Santiago de Chile

Chile

11

45.00%

12,653

1,353 [1]

Associates (at-equity investments)

Domestic

126 Beutlhauser-Bassewitz GmbH & Co. KG

127 Hans Joachim Jetschke Industriefahrzeuge (GmbH & Co.) KG

128 Linde Leasing GmbH

129 Linde Hydraulics GmbH & Co. KG

130 MV Fördertechnik GmbH

131 Pelzer Fördertechnik GmbH

132 Willenbrock Fördertechnik Holding GmbH

Foreign

133 Linde High Lift Chile S.A.

Joint Ventures (at-equity investments)

Domestic

Foreign

135 JULI Motorenwerk s.r.o.

Associates (accounted at cost)

Domestic

136 JETSCHKE GmbH

137 Linde Hydraulics Verwaltungs GmbH

134 Eisengießerei Dinklage GmbH

Dinklage

Germany

19

50.00%

4,126

140 [1]

Moravany

Czech Republic

11 & 19

50.00%

25,952

5,513

Hamburg

Aschaffenburg

Germany

Germany

138 Supralift Beteiligungs- und Kommunikationsgesellschaft mbH

Hofheim am Taunus

Germany

139 Supralift GmbH & Co. KG

Hofheim am Taunus

Germany

Foreign

140 Labrosse Equipement S.A.

141 Normandie Manutention S.A.

142 Chadwick Materials Handling Ltd.

143 EUROPA CARRELLI S.R.L.

144 Nordtruck AB

145 Carretillas Elevadoras Sudeste S.A.

146 CAYSA MANUTENCION S.L.

147 Motorové závody JULI CZ s r.o.

Other investments

Foreign

Saint-Peray

Le Grand Quevilly

Corsham

Bastia Umbra

Örnsköldsvik

Murcia

Valladolid

Moravany

France

France

U.K.

Italy

Sweden

Spain

Spain

11

11

11

11

31

31

47

67

78

91

22.00%

30.00%

50.00%

50.00%

34.00%

34.00%

48.00%

40.00%

25.00%

38.53%

91 & 145

46.71%

70

-

19

805

6,327

17,264

1,316

562

721

4,014

143

8

3 [1]

- [3]

1 [1]

8

1,736 [1]

3,389 [1]

24 [1]

-14 [2]

324 [2]

289

-1

0 [2]

Czech Republic

11

50.00%

148 TPZ Linde Vilicari Hrvatska d.o.o. (formerly: Linde Vilicari Hrvatska

Zagreb

Croatia

11

20.00%

168

20 [1]

d.o.o.)

[1] Financial figures as of 31 December 2011

[2] Last provided financial statement

[3] New during 2012

[4] Consolidated as required by IAS 27 in conjunction with SIC-12 (''Consolidation - special purpose entities'')

[A] Profit and loss transfer agreement with Linde Material Handling GmbH

[R] Dormant company

[B] Profit and loss transfer agreement with STILL Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

[C] Profit and loss transfer agreement with KION Financial Services GmbH

[D] Profit and loss transfer agreement with KION GROUP GmbH

[E] Profit and loss transfer agreement with KION Holding 1 GmbH

 
 
 
 
 
 
The  following  auditor’s  report  (Bestätigungsvermerk)  has  been  issued  in  accordance  with  §  322  German 
Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch) in German language on the German version of the consolidated financial 
statements  of  KION  Holding  1  GmbH  as  of  and  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  2012  and  the  group 
management report. 

Independent Auditors’ Report 

the  consolidated 

We  have  audited 
financial  statements  prepared  by  KION  Holding  1  GmbH, 
Wiesbaden/Germany, - comprising the consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income,  consolidated  statement  of  financial  position,  consolidated  statement  of  cash  flows,  consolidated 
statement  of  changes  in  equity  and  the  notes  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  -  and  the  group 
management  report  for  the  business  year  from  1 January  to  31  December  2012.  The  preparation  of  the 
consolidated financial statements and the group management report in accordance with IFRS, as adopted by the 
EU,  as  well  as  the  regulations  under  German  commercial  law  complementarily  applicable  under  §  315a  (1) 
German Commercial Code (HGB) are the responsibility of the parent company's management. Our responsibility 
is to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements and on the group management report based on 
our audit. 

We  conducted  our  audit  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  §  317  HGB  ("German 
Commercial Code") and German generally accepted standards for the audit of financial statements promulgated 
by  the  Institut  der  Wirtschaftsprüfer.  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  such  that 
misstatements materially affecting the presentation of the net assets, financial position and results of operations in 
the consolidated financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework and in the 
group management report are detected with reasonable assurance. Knowledge of the business activities and the 
economic  and  legal  environment  of  the  Group  and  expectations  as  to  possible  misstatements  are  taken  into 
account  in  the  determination  of  audit  procedures.  The  effectiveness  of  the  accounting-related  internal  control 
system  and  the  evidence  supporting  the  disclosures  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  group 
management report are examined primarily on a test basis within the framework of the audit. The audit includes 
assessing the annual financial statements of those entities included in consolidation, the determination of entities 
to be included in consolidation, the accounting and consolidation principles used and significant estimates made 
by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements and the 
group management report. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

Our audit has not led to any reservations.  

In our opinion, based on the findings of our audit, the consolidated financial statements of KION Holding 1 GmbH, 
Wiesbaden/Germany,  comply  with  IFRS,  as  adopted  by  the  EU,  as  well  as  the  regulations  under  German 
commercial law complementarily applicable under § 315a (1) German Commercial Code (HGB) and 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  group  management  report  is  consistent  with  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  as  a 
whole provides a suitable view of the Group's position and suitably presents the opportunities and risks of future 
development. 

Frankfurt am Main/Germany, 13 March 2013  

Deloitte & Touche GmbH 
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft 

  Signed: Kompenhans 

Wirtschaftsprüfer 
  [German Public Auditor] 

Signed: J. Löffler 
Wirtschaftsprüfer  
[German Public Auditor]