Annual Report • Mar 31, 2015
Annual Report
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| in million EUR | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue | 123.39 | 118.92 | 118.85 | 107.84 | 93.17 |
| EBITDA | 11.66 | 10.63 | 11.04 | 8.74 | 5.74 |
| EBIT | 9.33 | 8.33 | 8.02 | 6.26 | 3.97 |
| Net income | 6.36 | 5.88 | 5.42 | 4.35 | 3.01 |
| Earnings per share in EUR |
0.76 | 0.70 | 0.65 | 0.52 | 0.36 |
| Dividend per share in EUR |
Proposal: 0.90 |
0.35 | 0.55 | 0.30 | 0.15 |
| Equity ratio in % | 58.8 | 59.5 | 58.7 | 57.0 | 58.0 |
| Number of employees | 659 | 671 | 675 | 657 | 634 |
| Number of shares | 8,367,758 |
| Preface of the Management Board | 004-008 |
|---|---|
| Supervisory Board Report | 009-014 |
| Management Report | 015-041 |
| Group Financial Statement | 042-108 |
| Balance sheet | 043-044 |
| Income statement | 045-045 |
| Statement of comprehensive income | 046-046 |
| Statement of changes in equity | 046-046 |
| Statement of cash flows | 047-047 |
| Notes to the financial statement | 048-100 |
| Audit opinion | 101-101 |
| Corporate Governance report | 102-107 |
| CENIT share | 106-107 |
| Responsibility statement | 108-108 |
| AG-Financial Statement | 109-131 |
| Balance sheet | 110-111 |
| Income statement | 112-112 |
| Statement of changes in fixed assets | 113-114 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements AG | 115-129 |
| Audit opinion | 130-130 |
| Responsibility statement | 131-131 |
| Glossary | 132-134 |
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the occasion of last year's Annual Report, we made use of this opportunity to report on a positive year in which CENIT set the course for increased profitability in the future. In looking back on the year 2014 today, we are pleased to note that CENIT has again identified many opportunities correctly and exploited existing potentials – and has indeed turned them into distinct results: With total sales of TEUR 123,394, 2014 was the most successful year in the history of our enterprise.
We performed well on a sophisticated playing field with strong market actors, thanks to the quality of our product and service portfolio and our well-established market position as IT consultant and software provider. We again succeeded in expanding our business, growing profitably and achieving a good operative result. The credit for this achievement again goes to our 700 CENIT colleagues around the globe.
At the beginning on the year we focused particularly on sharpening the strategic framework that guides our actions – "CENIT 2018" – with a view to presenting the objectives, strategies and measures of the program even more clearly to you, our CENIT colleagues. Only we one clearly present our intentions and the means for realizing them can we persuade our employees to pursue the same path together. With our guiding principles "We strengthen the success of leading enterprises" and "We make our customers more competitive", we clearly state our common vision and global mission. Three target dimensions contribute to our ability to achieve this vision and mission: The economic, the technical and the social dimension. They ensure that we as an enterprise develop in a sustainable fashion: Economically with respect to the monetary result, technically in terms of our expertise, and socially as an attractive employer with a strong team. Five strategies – also defined individually for each business segment – set the course for us. If we follow these strategies consistently and sustainably, we will succeed in strengthening and further expanding our success and the success of our customers.
One of the most important control parameters of our enterprise is the operative result, EBIT. Compared to the already very solid previous year, we were able to increase our EBIT by 12% to TEUR 9,328 in 2014 – a very pleasing result. We have also increased the sales revenue mentioned above: At TEUR 123,394, it surpassed the previous year's achievement by 3.8%. Even if we did not quite reach the 5% sales growth target we had set ourselves at the beginning of the year, it is a result to be proud of.
Looking at the two strategic pillars of the enterprise – the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Information Management (EIM) segments – we currently still see a uniform picture: The PLM segment was able to increase sales by 7.5% to TEUR 97,572. Just one of the year's many highlights: CENIT again earned the strategic mandate to provide application support for all Airbus PLM solutions. Over the coming five years, CENIT will continue to support more than 100 applications at Airbus facilities in four countries, meaning that our support services will reach more than 30,000 end users – an impressive sign of confidence and vote of trust from our long-term customer Airbus, who will thereby continue to rely on innovative services by CENIT.
Because we are finalizing the reorientation of our EIM segment, with an increased focus on improved profitability within the segment, sales in the EIM segment have declined, attaining a total of TEUR 25,822 in 2014. Here too, our colleagues are nevertheless hard at work on providing our current and potential customers with optimal services and solutions.
One of the strategies of CENIT 2018 is to boost CENIT's market presence. Here our efforts to leverage acquisitions of locally well-established companies to achieve wider market access have again proven effective. In 2014, CENIT acquired the French enterprise SPI Numérique which is now operating successfully as a further CENIT office location in France. The acquisition not only strengthened us by providing our team with new specialists: Since the acquisition, our cenitSPIN software has proved its value as an excellent addition to CENIT's proprietary software portfolio and opened up new potentials in the PLM field. In future, we plan to continue growing both organically and by way of acquisitions and to strengthen CENIT's position and success as a result.
When speaking of CENIT's proprietary software, we should not fail to mention another 2014 highlight: In June, CENIT presented the newly developed software FASTSUITE Edition 2 to trade experts, with official sales of the software beginning shortly thereafter. As a standout market innovation, the software constitutes a major milestone for our Digital Factory unit and CENIT as a whole. Important other software products successfully marketed to the customer in 2014 included the FASTSUITE solutions as well as the cenitCONNECT Suite in the PLM field, as well as CENIT ECLISO and the ECM System Monitor in the EIM field. To further boost our innovative strength and promote the progress of the enterprise, CENIT increased research and development expenditures to TEUR 7,694 in 2014. Over the coming years we will continue to pursue our clear objective of demonstrating our technological prowess on the market and forging ahead in all enterprise segments by developing innovative solutions with high customer benefit.
Shifting our view now to CENIT's foreign subsidiaries in the US, Switzerland, France, Romania and Japan, the picture is almost identical: During the past year, almost all country offices were able to increase sales. Already today, they represent an important pillar in the earnings model of our enterprise. For this reason the economic, technical and social growth of the CENIT subsidiaries is an important concern for the entire enterprise. With a view to the targets set by CENIT 2018, we plan to further expand this commitment and continue to strengthen our international presence.
"To lead a strong team in a first-class working environment" – that's one of the official targets set by CENIT 2018. For us as Managing Board, this is not just strategic jargon, but rather a clear mandate for action. We strive to be an attractive and reliable employer to our staff – and we want to offer a workplace that motivates them to achieve. We actively support this aim via targeted personnel management, a
wide range of social benefits, as well as additional offers to staff, e.g. our Health Days or the training courses at the CENIT Campus, initiated in 2013. To support these efforts, we last year again conducted the internal employee survey YOUR FEEDBACK. The chief aim of this exercise was to learn how our staff members assess their company, their management, their duties and sphere of activities, the work of the Management Board, as well as CENIT's attractiveness as an employer. The results of this anonymous survey were used to derive concrete work packages for us as Management Board and for all CENIT managers in order to optimize specific aspects. By repeating this survey annually – and successively at CENIT's foreign subsidiaries as well – and by consistently evaluating progress in achieving the tasks that have been set for us, we intend to actively realize improvements for our staff.
The Management Board and the management staff of CENIT consider it their duty to drive the enterprise forward successfully and responsibly. For this reason, it has for years been our policy to promote the training of young talent. At the end of 2014, 52 young people were involved in a variety of vocational or university training courses at CENIT AG in Germany – the highest number in enterprise history.
Taking responsibility – both within the enterprise and in our external activities – has always been an important component of CENIT's corporate culture. Many CENIT staff members are already privately involved in community projects. To sustainably expand the social commitment that already exists within the enterprise, CENIT launched the "CENIT Cares" initiative in 2013. Within the framework of this program, CENIT supports social projects financially and/or via concrete on-the-ground assistance, providing an annually defined budget and special staff leave. In November of 2014, CENIT Cares celebrated its one-year anniversary – and can already look back on 20 projects realized thanks to donations and/or active help. In addition to a series of projects throughout Germany, we have also provided support for activities in Africa, Chile, Serbia and Moldova. We as Management Board feel proud to be working with employees who can look beyond their immediate horizons and wish to help others. We consider it our task to promote this commitment.
We are convinced that with the steps and measures we have taken in 2014, we have created the basis for continued growth in the future, both in economic terms and as an enterprise that combines technological excellence, professional strength and the necessary clarity of vision – and one that will move forward united as a strong team.
We have set ourselves ambitious targets for the coming years. We as Management Board are committed to opening up, for our enterprise and our staff, all the opportunities and potentials we need to continue on our successful path. We thank our staff sincerely for the commitment and loyalty they have demonstrated throughout the past year.
We also thank our customers and partners for their trust, their collaboration and the success we have achieved together. And not least, our sincere thanks go to our shareholders for the confidence they have shown in us. We are convinced that together with you, we will write a further chapter in the CENIT success story in the coming year.
Yours sincerely, The Management Board of CENIT AG
Kurt Bengel Matthias Schmidt Spokesman, Management Board Member, Management Board
Dear Shareholders,
The year 2014 was a successful year for CENIT. The development of the Company progressed as planned. During this process, the Supervisory Board performed all duties to which it is obligated by law and the Articles of Association. We monitored the Company's conduct of business and advised the Management Board in its governance of the enterprise. We were involved in all decisions which were of fundamental importance to the enterprise and required participation by the Supervisory Board. Within the ambit of our supervisory and advisory capacity, we regularly requested and received timely and comprehensive reports, in both written and oral form, from the Management Board. The Management Board informed us as to the course of business and the economic and financial development of CENIT. Further key reporting matters were the risk situation, risk management, compliance topics, as well as fundamental aspects of enterprise strategy.
Additionally, we considered the Management Board's planning for the 2015 business year and its medium-term plans, as well as instances in which the actual course of business deviated from prior planning. During inter-sessional periods, the Management Board kept the Supervisory Board apprised of the most important business indicators by providing monthly reports, and duly presented for our consideration such matters as required Supervisory Board approval. The reports by the Management Board on the business situation and presentations on special matters of interest were supported by written presentations and documents; these were duly dispatched to each Supervisory Board member to permit sufficient presession preparation. The collaboration between the Management and Supervisory Boards is characterized by close, trust-based cooperation and open, constructive dialog.
Over the past year, the Supervisory Board held five regular sessions and two extraordinary telephone conferences for detailed discussions on the business situation, the strategic development and the long-term positioning of CENIT Group. All members of the Supervisory Board participated in each of these events. In its own estimation, the Supervisory Board possesses an appropriate number of members, who maintain no business or personal relations with the Company or members of the Management Board such as could give rise to a conflict of interests. In Mr. Hubert Leypoldt, we have an independent financial expert acting as a member of the Supervisory Board. As during the previous years, the Supervisory Board did not consider it necessary to form committees in view of the low number of Supervisory Board members. During the reporting period, no conflicts of interest arose on the part of Supervisory Board members.
The Management Board provided information on the development of sales and earnings within CENIT Group to all Supervisory Board sessions held during the reporting year 2014. Additionally, the Management Board elucidated the course of business in the individual business segments and reported on the asset, financial and earnings situation. In this context, we placed particular emphasis on potential consequences for risk and liquidity management.
During its balance sheet session of March 27, 2014 and in the presence of the statutory auditor/Group statutory auditor, the Supervisory Board considered the annual financial statements of CENIT. The annual financial statement of CENIT Aktiengesellschaft and the consolidated annual financial statement for the 2013 business year, both prepared by the Management Board, were reviewed, also taking into consideration accountancy reports as well as the Situation Report and Consolidated Situation Report prepared by BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft [Auditing Company], Stuttgart, which was selected as annual auditor by the regular General Meeting of Shareholders on May 31, 2013. In particular, and in detailed discussions with the Management Board and the auditor, the Supervisory Board reviewed the submitted annual financial statement and consolidated annual financial statement as well as the respective Situation Reports, also taking the underlying accounting policy into consideration. On the basis of the audit reports and in individual discussions, the Supervisory Board further considered the results of the audit of the annual financial statements. The Supervisory Board was satisfied that the audit and the audit reports fulfilled the requirements of §§ 317, 321 HGB [Commercial Code]. The annual financial statements for 2013, prepared by the Management Board and awarded with unqualified audit certificates by the auditor, were conclusively reviewed during the balance sheet session. On March 27, 2014 the Supervisory Board approved the 2013 annual financial statement of CENIT AG and noted the 2013 consolidated financial statement with approval. Upon review, the Supervisory Board endorsed the Management Board's proposal for the appropriation of balance-sheet profits.
During the session of March 27, 2014 the Supervisory Board also considered the business situation during the 1st Quarter of 2014. The Digital Factory Solutions (DFS) unit presented the progress of ongoing development of CENIT's proprietary software FASTSUITE Edition 2. The session also focused on planning and preparations for the General Meeting of Shareholders on May 16, 2014.
During the course of the year, the Supervisory Board was continually kept informed of periodic financial results and undertook detailed discussions with the Management Board on the 2014 semi-annual financial statement as well as the interim reports for the individual Quarters. A consistent focus of these discussions was on the review of developments in earnings and sales during 2014 as well as the 5-year plan "CENIT 2018".
In an extraordinary telephone conference on January 31, 2014 the Management and Supervisory Boards engaged in detailed consultations on the acquisition of the French enterprise SPI Numérique. The Supervisory Board approved the Management Board's proposal and approach regarding the acquisition of SPI Numérique unanimously and without abstention.
The second ordinary session of the business year was held on May 16, 2014 in follow-up to the General Meeting of Shareholders. Topical content were the course of business of CENIT AG as well as forecasts the first half of 2014. The discussions also focused on the integration of the newly acquired company SPI Numérique and its merger with CENIT France SARL.
During its ordinary session of September 26, 2014 the Management Board elucidated the business situation during the 3rd Quarter. The session also considered scheduling matters for the year 2015 and discussed a number of acquisition options.
Discussion during the session of November 14, 2014 focused on business development during the 4th Quarter. The Management Board further presented the Supervisory Board with its Risk Management Report as well as information on potential mergers & acquisitions projects. Additionally, the marketing division held a presentation on its activities.
In an extraordinary telephone conference on December 2, 2014 the Supervisory Board agreed upon a framework for an extension of the Management Board contracts. Mr. Andreas Schmidt was mandated with implementing the contract extensions by December 31, 2014.
During the last ordinary session of the year on December 12, 2014 the Supervisory Board considered CENIT's planning for the 2015 business year and the continuation and updating of the strategic 5-year plan "CENIT 2018". Various merger & acquisitions options were discussed as well. The Management Board contracts of Mr. Kurt Bengel and Mr. Matthias Schmidt were signed upon conclusion of the session.
An important topic addressed at several sessions was risk management within CENIT Group. The Management Board reported on the chief risks for the enterprise and the risk monitoring system put in place to address them. In a series of discussions with the Management Board and several meetings with the annual auditor, the Supervisory Board satisfied itself of the effectiveness of the risk monitoring systems.
On an ongoing basis, we reviewed particulars of corporate governance matters within CENIT Group, including the amendments of the German Corporate Governance Code adopted by the Government Commission. The Supervisory Board is convinced that good corporate governance constitutes a significant foundation for the success, reputation and self-image of an enterprise. For this reason, the Supervisory Board has continually monitored and considered the ongoing development of corporate governance standards and their implementation within CENIT. This also included regular verification of the efficiency of our own activities. Particular attention – also in our discussions with the annual auditor – was accorded to the continual lawfulness of business management and the efficiency of enterprise organization. A culture of continually responsible and lawful conduct, and an awareness of its existential significance to the enterprise, are well entrenched within CENIT and its acting bodies. In accordance with Article 3.10 of the German Corporate Governance Code, the Management and Supervisory Boards report on corporate governance at CENIT in their Corporate Governance Report. In its session of February 14, 2014, the Supervisory Board issued its 2011 Declaration of Conformity with the German Corporate Governance Code in its version of May 13, 2013, in accordance with § 161 AktG, and has made this declaration available to the Company's shareholders on the Company's website.
Accounting reports, the annual financial statement including the Situation Report for the 2014 business year, as well as the consolidated financial statement including commentary and Group Situation Report for the 2014 business year were audited by BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, who were selected as annual auditor and consolidated annual auditor by the General Meeting of Shareholders on May 16, 2014. In accordance with its duties, the Supervisory Board reviewed the qualification, independence and efficiency of the auditor.
The auditor has issued unconditional audit certificates for the 2014 annual and consolidated annual financial statements of CENIT as prepared by the Management Board, including the Situation Report and Group Situation Report. The annual financial statement of CENIT Aktiengesellschaft was prepared in accordance with the principles of commercial law. The consolidated annual financial statement follows the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). All members of the Supervisory Board had full and complete access to the financial statement documents and audit reports. The Supervisory Board has discussed the annual auditor's report intensively with both the Management Board and the auditor, in order to satisfy itself as to its legality and propriety. The Supervisory Board is confident that the annual auditor's reports for 2014 were in full compliance with statutory requirements.
Prior to the sessions all members of the Supervisory Board were supplied with comprehensive reports in writing by the Management Board and excerpts from documents of the Company, particularly accountancy documentation. On the basis of this and other information requested by the Supervisory Board during and between sessions, the Supervisory Board was able to fulfill its supervisory duties duly and properly.
During the balance sheet session on March 20, 2015 the annual auditor reported on the essential results of the audit of the financial statement of CENIT Aktiengesellschaft and was available to provide additional information and respond to queries. On this occasion, all members of the Supervisory Board were able to satisfy themselves that the audit has been conducted in compliance with statutory requirements and in an adequate manner.
As a conclusive result of its own review in accordance with § 171 Aktiengesetz, the Supervisory Board noted that no objections were to be raised.
In its session of March 20, 2015 the Supervisory Board endorsed the annual financial statement for the 2014 business year as prepared by the Management Board, and thus issued its approval in accordance with § 172 Aktiengesetz. Likewise in its session of March 20, 2015 the Supervisory Board endorsed the consolidated financial statement for the 2014 business year.
Upon review, the Supervisory Board endorsed the proposal of the Management Board for the appropriation of balance-sheet profits.
The Supervisory Board wishes to thank the Management Board and all CENIT staff members throughout the world for their personal commitment, their achievements and their performance, which have contributed decisively to the successful conclusion of the past business year.
Stuttgart, March 2015
For the Supervisory Board
Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Schmidt Chairman, Supervisory Board
The CENIT Group is managed globally by the parent company CENIT AG as an operating company. The Group's economic situation is shaped by the economic situation of the parent, CENIT AG. For this reason, the executive board of CENIT AG combines the management report of the Group and of CENIT AG together in one report.
CENIT has two business divisions — Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Information Management (EIM).
CENIT is the specialist for the core processes of its customers, focusing on the manufacturing industry and the financial services industry. The consultancy, service and software offering of the CENIT Group is based on standard products by its software partners as well as CENIT's own solutions based on those standard products. Leading software providers such as Dassault Systèmes, IBM and SAP are partners to the Company. The employees in the CENIT Group have a deep understanding of the processes and technologies in the target industries and thus provide the customers with tailored industry support in the planning, implementation and optimisation of their business and IT processes.
To allow the customers to concentrate on their core competences, the CENIT Group also manages the applications and the related IT infrastructures.
CENIT's strategy is geared to sustainable profitable growth. For this reason, we focus just as much on the employees and technology partnerships with the partners as on efforts to give the customers a competitive edge with CENIT solutions.
CENIT is headquartered in Germany (Stuttgart) and represented in the principal industrial centres there. In addition, the US market is served by a subsidiary located near Detroit. CENIT has further locations in Switzerland, Romania, Japan and France. The French CENIT subsidiary based in Toulouse supports the leading aerospace company Airbus Group directly on site. The domestic and foreign companies included in the consolidated financial statements are consolidated in accordance with the uniform accounting and valuation methods in the CENIT Group. The companies use the same accounting and valuation methods as CENIT AG in Germany. The subsidiaries specialise in services and software. In addition, CENIT AG holds one third of the joint venture CenProCS AIRliance GmbH. The joint venture provides services and consulting for the common major customer Airbus Group.
The executive board of CENIT AG is responsible for the overall planning and the realisation of the long-term objectives of the Group. The uppermost goal of corporate development is to raise the business value on a long-term basis by means of profitable growth. The planning required to control the operational units as well as the resulting measures are derived from the long-term corporate planning, taking into account the developments in the competitive and market environment.
The relevant key performance indicators for the economic objectives are revenue, gross margin, costs as well as earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). An individualised system of profit participation is in place to motivate employees to be committed to meeting the agreed targets. On an annual basis, the executive board defines measures and measurable milestones for CENIT to use to reach its long-term objectives. Short-term control takes the form of a variance analysis with the annual plan. As part of this planning process, the persons responsible make an initial assessment of the development of major income statement items such as revenue, profit contribution, selling and administrative costs, EBIT as well as of the employment situation.
The fiscal year is planned by the business units and the executive board by means of a separate bottom-up and top-down planning process. At joint planning rounds, these assessments are tested for plausibility, supported and finally presented by the executive board to the supervisory board for approval. As part of this planning process, the current five-year plan is also examined and rolled forward every two years.
To assess the business development at regular intervals — variance analysis — the operating units are provided with detailed reports in order to allow the best possible business control. The executive board analyses variance analyses every month together with each operating unit in order to initiate necessary adjustment measures on a timely basis.
However, many financial ratios that are critical to success are not quantifiable or can only be quantified indirectly. These include factors such as the reputation of the brand, customer satisfaction, employee qualifications, experience and motivation as well as their leadership qualities, and also the corporate culture. All of these factors can only be described in qualitative terms at best. To do this, CENIT uses tools such as customer surveys and the annual employee survey in order to counter adverse developments.
A further goal is to continue to strengthen innovative power. For this reason, CENIT raised its R&D expenses to EUR 7,694 k in the fiscal year 2014. The business units of CENIT focus their R&D efforts on the next generation of their products and solutions and prepare for their successful market launch. The close cooperation with the product and client-facing areas allows CENIT to offer customised solutions. In addition to selling standard software, the CENIT Group develops its own programs to supplement and extend these solutions.
The Group's software solutions are based on products from Dassault Systèmes, such as the PLM software CATIA, ENOVIA or DELMIA, or on IT solutions from IBM and SAP. The software expertise and decades of industry experience allow CENIT to optimise the productivity and data quality of its customers with its own CENIT solutions. The CENIT Group offers more than 20 of its own solutions in total in its business divisions.
Innovation is progress. Consequently, research and development are of central importance for the further achievement of the Group's objectives. CENIT's activities in this area are constantly being expanded. At the same time, CENIT thus enhances its position in relation to its competitors. A marginal rise in innovation costs is planned once again in the fiscal year 2015.
According to forecasts by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the global economy will grow more slowly in 2015 than originally expected. Despite low oil prices and the recovery in the United States, the IMF adjusted its economic outlook for global growth downward by 0.3% to 3.5%. According to IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard, the global economy is benefiting from the low oil prices, but the advantages are more than cancelled out by negative factors such as weaker investment.
The German economy proved stable in a rather difficult economic environment, benefiting in particular from strong domestic demand. Despite numerous international crises, for example in Ukraine and the Middle East, gross domestic product rose by 1.5% in 2014 according to the Statistisches Bundesamt (Federal Statistical Office). A figure as strong as this has not been seen in the last three years. Thanks to consumers' willingness to spend, falling petrol prices, low interest, record employment levels and rising wages, Germany experienced roughly twice as much growth as the euro zone as a whole.
Private consumption rose by 1.1%. Investments in equipment, particularly in machines, devices and vehicles, rose by 3.7% year on year. German exports also gained pace despite a continued difficult foreign trade environment, with Germany exporting 3.7% more goods than in 2013. Imports increased almost just as strongly, by 3.3%.
The number of people in employment reached 42.7 million in 2014 (+0.9%), reaching a new record level for the eighth year in a row. The unemployment rate thus slipped marginally from 6.9% in the prior year to 6.7% in 2014.
In 2014, Germany more than balanced its budget for the third year in succession. Based on preliminary calculations, the net lending surplus amounts to EUR 11.9 billion, making it the second highest since German reunification.
The German economy is just modestly optimistic for the year 2015. Reasons for this include among other things the weakening economic environment in the euro zone, the minimum wage and the unclear energy policy. In addition, the lasting conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions against Russia as well as the unrest in the Middle East in connection with the threat from Islamic fundamentalists could burden the global economic recovery.
Nevertheless, economic experts are assuming GDP growth of 1.5% on the 2014 level. In its recently published economic report, the German government also assumes GDP growth of 1.5% and a 0.1 percentage point fall in the unemployment rate to 6.6% in 2015. According to the ifo Institute, the impetus for the rise in gross domestic product is expected to stem from the domestic economy, as was the case in the prior year. Historically low interest levels, falling commodities prices, rising wages and record employment levels mean that private consumption in particular will expand apace with increasing real income. Investments in new equipment as well as construction investments are also set to increase again, not least due to continued extremely positive financing conditions for new business investments.
Leading research institutes estimate that there is no fundamental revival in sight for the economy in the euro zone. While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is forecasting marginal growth of roughly 1.2%, experts warn that even this modestly optimistic forecast may need to be corrected after the parliamentary elections in Greece and the change of government there.
It states that the most recent development of the oil price will lead to a rise in available income and is thus likely to have a positive effect on private consumption. Driven by better financing conditions and rising demand domestically and from abroad, investments could also recover in 2015.
However, the numerous structural problems could have a slowing effect on the economy. The IMF states that in some countries in the euro zone, the banking sector is still insufficiently capitalised, private household debt and company debt is still very high and international competitiveness is relatively low. In France and Italy in particular, numerous urgently needed reforms have not taken place. As a consequence, a weak development has been forecast for those countries, which could thus weigh heavily on the combined economic performance in the currency union.
Although it did not appear likely at the beginning of 2014, the US economy bounced back with surprising strength in the third quarter in particular, achieving the strongest growth in eleven years.
Thanks to shrinking unemployment figures (2014: 6.2%), low interest and falling commodities prices, the world's largest national economy increased GDP by 2.4% in 2014. This is due in the main to private consumption, which accounts for 70% of the US economy. The prospects also look favourable for 2015. According to forecasts by economic experts, GDP is set to rise by a further 2.7% and the unemployment rate could fall to a record figure of between 5.3% and 5.7% by the end of 2015.
In light of this development, Wall Street expects that the US Federal Reserve could raise the interest rate in the first half of 2015 already.
A VAT increase by three percentage points in April 2014 saw Japan's economy slide into recession in the summer of last year. The government is predicting a decline of 0.5% for the financial year 2014, which runs until March 2015.
This means that the risky economic policy adopted by the country's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, will now be put to the test. Two years ago, Abe put the central bank on an extremely expansive course in a bid to overcome the deflation that has been paralysing the country for almost two decades. However, overall Japan has been experiencing stagnating economic performance combined with rising prices, which is why the second VAT increase, planned for 2015, has now been postponed to 2017.
It remains to be seen whether the target growth of up to 1.5% for 2015 that is forecast by economists is achievable. This will hinge on whether the low unemployment rate of just 3.5% at present and the surplus of public-sector jobs will cause wages and salaries to rise faster than living costs, thus kick-starting the cycle of more consumption, higher profits and rising investments.
As expected, sales with products and services in information technology, telecommunications and consumer electronics rose in Germany in 2014, by 1.6% to EUR 153.4 billion according to the industry association BITKOM. Information technology (IT) remains the most important pillar of growth, rising by 4.3% to EUR 77.8 billion. Contrary to the forecasts, the business with IT hardware experienced surprise growth of almost 5.8% to EUR 22 billion in 2014. The growth was driven by classic PCs, the demise of which had already been assumed imminent. At the same time, the business with smartphones and tablets continued to expand, albeit at a considerably slower pace than had been expected in the spring. Sales with software (up 5.6%) and services (up 2.7%) also continued to rise.
According to BITKOM, sales with ITC products and services experienced 4% global growth in 2014 to EUR 2.79 billion, thus outpacing the overall economy. The ITC market in China was the fastest-growing market, with sales up by 14.7% to EUR 351 billion there. Growth in the USA was 3.3% to EUR 775 billion, while the EU's growth ran at just 0.4% to EUR 641 billion. The sub-area of IT grew by 2.9% to EUR 1.15 billion. As in recent years, the growth was driven by the business with software (up 6%) and with IT services (up 3.4%). By contrast, the global market for IT hardware declined marginally (down 0.5%).
BITKOM expects IT to continue to form the growth pillar for the ITC market in Germany in 2015. Growth is forecast to total 2.4% to EUR 79.7 billion. Most growth is forecast in the software business, which is expected to expand by 5.5% to EUR 20.2 billion. Sales with IT services are to rise by 3% to EUR 37.4 billion. According to the Experton Group, the business customers market for cloud solutions alone is expected to yield growth of 39% to EUR 8.8 billion in 2015.
2014 was one of the most successful years for CENIT Group in spite of the fact that it was not possible to grow sales by the targeted 5%. In the EIM segment revenues declined by 8% in 2014. The focus on raising profitability meant that not all possibilities on the market were used to reach the sales target. In the PLM segment revenues grew by 7.5%. The EBIT in the EIM segment stood at EUR 956 k (prior year: EUR 1,014 k) and in the PLM segment at EUR 8,372 k (prior year: EUR 7,318 k).
Earnings per share improved by 8.6% to 0.76 EUR per share. Cost-cutting measures but most especially the focus on profitable service projects and the growth in the sale of third-party software contributed to this development.
Due to the favourable development in the PLM segment, revenues (+2.0%) as well as the EBIT (+1.7%) of CENIT AG are marginally above the prior-year level respectively.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| CENIT consulting and service | 53,943 | 55,631 |
| CENIT software | 12,728 | 12,791 |
| Third-party software | 56,251 | 50,248 |
| Merchandise | 472 | 251 |
| Total | 123,394 | 118,921 |
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| EIM sales | 25,822 | 28,135 |
| PLM sales | 97,572 | 90,786 |
| Total | 123,394 | 118,921 |
80.1% (prior year: 82.2%) of sales was generated in Germany, 10.7% (prior year: 9.0%) in other EU countries and 9.3% (prior year: 8.8%) in other countries.
In the fiscal year 2014, the CENIT Group recorded revenue of EUR 123,394 k (prior year: EUR 118,921 k), which thus grew by 3.8%. Revenue from CENIT consulting and services dropped by 3.0%. By contrast, sales with third-party software rose by approximately 11.9%. At EUR 12,728 k, sales with CENIT's own software remained constant after a prior-year level of EUR 12,791 k (-0.5%). It was chiefly the software products FASTSUITE and CENITCONNECT in the area of PLM and IBM ECM System Monitor as well as ECLISO in the area of EIM that were sold successfully to the end customers.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Gross profit | 75,200 | 73,242 |
| EBITDA | 11,662 | 10,635 |
| EBIT | 9,328 | 8,331 |
| Total financial result | 77 | 49 |
| Net income for the year | 6,358 | 5,879 |
Gross profit (operating performance less cost of materials) totalled EUR 75,200 k (prior year: EUR 73,242 k), thus up slightly by 2.7%. By contrast, the gross profit margin fell slightly from 61.0% to 60.6%. Personnel expenses increased marginally by EUR 1,401 k or 2.9% in the fiscal year compared to the prior year. Performancerelated pay climbed to EUR 4,064 k (prior year: EUR 3,256 k). CENIT achieved EBITDA of EUR 11,662 k (prior year: EUR 10,635 k/9.7%) and EBIT of EUR 9,328 k (prior year: EUR 8,331 k/12.0%). As a percentage of operating performance, the EBITDA margin rose from 8.9% to 9.4%.
| in EUR/share | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| EPS | 0.76 | 0.70 |
Earnings per share (EPS) were up in a year-on-year comparison from EUR 0.70/share to EUR 0.76/share.
The subsidiary generated revenue of EUR 11,368 k in the past fiscal year (prior year: EUR 10,145 k) and EBIT of EUR 767 k (prior year: EUR 857 k). The business activities in Switzerland focus on PLM solutions from Dassault Systèmes and EIM solutions from IBM. The 18 employees in total from the branches in Effretikon and Yverdon-les-Bains mainly support customers from the manufacturing industry and the financial services industry.
CENIT North America Inc. generated sales of EUR 11,486 k (prior year: EUR 9,053 k) and EBIT of EUR 2,272 k (prior year: EUR 685 k). In the USA, the focus is on marketing CENIT software products in the area of PLM. The company's attention centres on customers in the aerospace industry and the manufacturing industry. 32 employees work in service and sales units.
CENIT SRL generated sales of EUR 1,868 k (prior year: EUR 1,780 k) and EBIT of EUR 249 k (prior year: EUR 296 k). It has 32 employees and primarily provides services and is stepping up software developments. CENIT SRL's business activities also focus on marketing software of the strategic partner Dassault Systèmes in the PLM environment.
CENIT France SRL generated sales of EUR 1,110 k (prior year: EUR 1,082 k) and EBIT of EUR 74 k (prior year: EUR 53 k). The 14 employees chiefly provide support to the customer Airbus Group in Toulouse in relation to project consulting and tenders.
In 2014, CENIT France SARL took over the near Lyon based software house SPI Numérique. With its solution cenitSPIN, Dassault Systèmes partner SPI Numérique provides a preconfigured and scalable PLM solution based on Dassault Systèmes technology for small and medium-sized companies. SPI Numérique SARL generated at basis of sales of EUR 399 k and other operating income of EUR 716 k an EBIT of EUR 496 k. The other operating income result mainly from the sale of software to CENIT AG.
CENIT Japan K. K. generated sales of EUR 639 k (prior year: EUR 913 k) and EBIT of EUR -129 k (prior year: EUR 31 k). CENIT has already been selling its own software and consultancy products in Japan via local partners for some years now. By having its own CENIT location, the Group wants to emphasise the importance of the market going forward. The focus of CENIT Japan K.K. relates to digital factory solutions.
The joint venture between CS Communication & Systèmes, CENIT AG and PROSTEP AG was founded in 2007 and allows the major customer Airbus Group access to proven know-how and expert knowledge via just one contractual partner. CENIT AG holds a one-third share in the joint venture. It is reported at equity in the consolidated financial statements. CenProCS AIRliance GmbH publishes its own annual financial statements.
Order intake in the CENIT Group amounted to EUR 122,552 k in the past fiscal year 2014 (prior year: EUR 111,824 k). The order backlog as of 31 December 2014 amounted to EUR 34,578 k (prior year: EUR 36,868 k).
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| CENIT consulting and service | 46,488 | 49,085 |
| CENIT software | 10,887 | 11,172 |
| Third-party software | 46,025 | 41,346 |
| Merchandise | 468 | 251 |
| Total | 103,868 | 101,854 |
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| EIM | 22,495 | 24,616 |
| PLM | 81,373 | 77,238 |
| Total | 103,868 | 101,854 |
CENIT AG generated revenue of EUR 103,868 k in the fiscal year 2014 (prior year: EUR 101,854 k). The strongest sales driver, consulting and service, experienced a year-on-year decline of 5.3%. The share of sales with third-party software amounted to EUR 46,025 k (prior year: EUR 41,346 k), while sales of CENIT's own software dropped a little to EUR 10,887 k (prior year: EUR 11,172 k).
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Gross profit | 63,750 | 63,876 |
| EBITDA | 8,418 | 8,401 |
| EBIT | 7,158 | 7,036 |
| Total financial result | 2,227 | 135 |
| Net income for the year | 7,029 | 4,814 |
The Company's gross profit amounted to EUR 63,750 k (prior year: EUR 63,876 k). Gross profit margin stood at 60.6% (prior year: 61.2%).
CENIT AG achieved EBITDA of EUR 8,418 k after a figure of EUR 8,401 k in 2013 (0.2%). The EBITDA margin is 8.1%. EBIT stood at EUR 7,158 k compared to EUR 7,036 k in the prior year (1.7%). Amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment dropped by EUR 104 k to EUR 1,261 k.
In a year-on-year comparison, personnel expenses rose by EUR 222 k (0.5%). The average headcount slipped to 558 employees (prior year: 571).
The financial result contains distributions of the subsidiary in Romania amounting to EUR 162 k in total (prior year: EUR 76 k) and in Switzerland amounting to EUR 1,939 k.
Order intake at CENIT AG amounted to EUR 101,617 k in the past fiscal year 2014 (prior year: EUR 94,772 k). As of 31 December 2014, the order backlog at CENIT AG amounted to EUR 28,491 k (prior year: EUR 31,980 k).
There are no liabilities of any kind to banks, either short-term or long-term. Credit lines of EUR 3,197 k granted are currently not being utilised. The amount of cash and cash equivalents that is temporarily not required to finance operations is invested on a short-term and sometimes also on a medium-term basis with an adequate risk/return ratio. All of the capital expenditure in non-current assets was financed without external funding in the reporting year. The strong financial position allows financing to come from company funds on a long-term basis.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash flow from operating activities | 9,401 | 8,854 |
| Capex (investments) | -303 | -1,219 |
| Free cash flow* | 9,098 | 7,635 |
| Free cash flow per share in EUR | 1.09 | 0.91 |
| Cash flow from financing activities | -2,929 | -4,602 |
| Cash and cash equivalents as of the balance sheet date | 33,250 | 26,632 |
KPI's from the statement of cash flows in the Group
*operating cash flow less capex
The cash flow from operating activities increased on the prior year. The net cash used for investing activities dropped from EUR 1,219 k to EUR 303 k. In 2014, the acquisition of shares in fully consolidated entities reduced cash by EUR 574 k, while the changes in other financial assets increased cash by EUR 2,000 k. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period thus total EUR 33,250 k, increasing by a total of EUR 6,618 k.
In additional to financial planning, CENIT carries out monthly liquidity planning. Any liquidity surplus is used in a targeted manner for the financing of projects, software developments, investments and the expansion of national companies.
Both CENIT AG and its group entities were always able to meet their payment obligations in the fiscal year 2014.
The liquidity as of the balance sheet date rose from EUR 20,360 k in the prior year to EUR 27,126 k in the past fiscal year. The rise in cash inflows from ordinary operations stems first and foremost from the increase in the net income for the year as well as the reduction in other assets. The dividend of EUR 0.35 per share decided at last year's shareholder meeting led to a cash outflow of EUR 2,929 k.
The executive board and supervisory board will propose to the shareholder meeting on 13 May 2015 that a dividend of EUR 0.40 per share be distributed from the retained earnings of EUR 7,562 k. In addition, the executive board and supervisory board will propose to the shareholder meeting that a base dividend of EUR 0.50 per share be distributed this year and in each of the coming two years subject to the proviso that the Group's results of operations and status of liquidity do not change materially (not expected at present). The proposed dividend for 2014 is thus EUR 0.90 per share. The Group continues to assume that the economic development will be stable in the coming months. Experience has shown that it makes sense to secure liquidity for the long term and to maintain financial independence in times of crisis. Ultimately, CENIT's strong financial position also constitutes a decisive competitive advantage in the awarding of contracts, in that it lends the necessary security to customers' investment projects, also with a view to the services and software products of the CENIT Group. The other existing cash and cash equivalents should enable CENIT to continue to participate in the growth of the target markets going forward – in the interest of the Group and its shareholders and to the extent that this appears sensible. This includes, for example, measures to expand service and software activities. Interesting acquisitions will therefore be viewed and examined on a continuous basis. But the further technological expansion in terms of new areas and software development also requires capital.
Consequently, the financial strategy remains geared to maintaining a strong credit rating in the long term that does, however, also take into account the interests of the shareholders in receiving a dividend.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Non-current assets | 6,952 | 8,736 |
| Current assets | 59,933 | 51,623 |
| Total assets | 66,885 | 60,359 |
| Equity ratio | 58.8% | 59.5% |
| Equity | 39,352 | 35,930 |
| Non-current liabilities | 2,889 | 2,259 |
| Current liabilities | 24,644 | 22,170 |
| Total equity and liabilities | 66,885 | 60,359 |
Non-current assets changed mainly due to the sale of financial assets. As of the balance sheet date, equity came to EUR 39,352 k (prior year: EUR 35,930 k). The equity ratio stands at 58.8% (prior year: 59.5%). Bank balances and cash and cash equivalents totalled EUR 33,250 k as of the balance sheet date (prior year: EUR 26,632 k). In addition to the cash and cash equivalents, there are still sufficient overdraft facilities amounting to EUR 3,197 k.
Both the current assets and the current liabilities are in line with business development. Cash flow from operating activities came to EUR 9,401 k (prior year: EUR 8,854 k). In 2014, the cash flow was influenced by the payment of the dividend to the shareholders amounting to EUR 2,929 k in total and by investments of EUR 303 k.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets | 5,165 | 6,131 |
| Current assets | 18,081 | 16,176 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 27,126 | 20,360 |
| Prepaid expenses | 3,540 | 4,761 |
| Total assets | 53,912 | 47,427 |
| Equity ratio | 60.8% | 60.5% |
| Equity | 32,777 | 28,677 |
| Provisions | 7,163 | 6,445 |
| Liabilities | 8,618 | 7,352 |
| Deferred income | 5,354 | 4,953 |
| Total equity and liabilities | 53,912 | 47,427 |
As of the balance sheet date, equity came to EUR 32,777 k (prior year: EUR 28,677 k). The equity ratio stands at 60.8% (prior year: 60.5%). Bank balances and cash and cash equivalents totalled EUR 27,126 k as of the balance sheet date (prior year: EUR 20,360 k). In addition to the cash and cash equivalents, there are still sufficient overdraft facilities amounting to EUR 3,197 k. Both the trade receivables of EUR 15,137 k (prior year: EUR 13,686 k) and the trade payables of EUR 3,416 k (prior year: EUR 2,919 k) were in line with business development.
This financial independence constitutes a future competitive advantage for CENIT AG and guarantees customers the necessary investment security.
Investments in property, plant and equipment generally play a lesser role at CENIT. They mainly involve investments in the furniture and fixtures of the sales branches and the administrative headquarters. Of these, most investments were replacement investments in the technical infrastructure.
Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets amounted to EUR 2,519 k in 2014 (prior year: EUR 1,226 k). Amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment came to EUR 2,334 k (prior year: EUR 2,303 k).
Investments break down by segment as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| EIM | 313 | 331 |
| PLM | 2,206 | 895 |
| Total | 2,519 | 1,226 |
Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets amounted to EUR 2,300 k in 2014 (prior year: EUR 1,189 k). Amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment came to EUR 1,261 k (prior year: EUR 1,365 k).
Investments (in intangible assets and property, plant and equipment) break down by segment as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| EIM | 309 | 329 |
| PLM | 1,991 | 860 |
| Total | 2,300 | 1,189 |
Investments were financed in full by the cash flow from operating activities.
The high level of volatility on the foreign exchange markets and the resulting uncertainty surrounding exchange rate developments only have a minor influence on CENIT. Among others, the business activities of the CENIT Group also generate cash in US dollars (USD), Swiss francs (CHF), Romanian leu (RON) and Japanese yen (JPY). CENIT is thus exposed to a certain currency risk, even though only relatively small portions of the Group's income and sales are recorded in these foreign currencies. Risk management monitors and assesses the respective foreign exchange fluctuations and ensures hedging on a timely basis as needed. However, most billing is denominated in euro (EUR).
CENIT trusts its partners and suppliers and expects fair and long-term cooperation. Performance, counterperformance and risks are appropriately balanced. Partners and suppliers are expected to participate in recognising potential for reducing costs. CENIT thus applies a purchasing policy that is precisely tailored to the specific requirements of each project.
CENIT's procurement staff members have a wealth of experience in the provision of goods and services for all customer projects. The Group works with reputable partners in procurement that are either market or industry leaders in their product area. Since procurement focuses primarily on the euro zone, foreign exchange risks are negligible. The cost of goods and purchased services amounted to EUR 48,829 k in 2014 in the CENIT Group (prior year: EUR 46,901 k) and to EUR 41,516 k (prior year: EUR 40,438 k) at CENIT AG, Germany. At EUR 7 k in the CENIT Group as of year end (prior year: EUR 4 k), the inventory value and the amount of capital tied up as a result is kept at a low level thanks to project-based procurement.
The success of CENIT hinges primarily on meeting customer requirements. In the field of business process consulting, we want to win customers with high-quality and economical solutions. By carrying out operating activities for the customer or at the customer, we want to raise the efficiency of the processes assumed.
The motivation of each and every employee lies in exceeding customer objectives. To achieve this, CENIT has designed its own processes to meet these requirements. To this end, CENIT has drafted and enforced key process descriptions applicable to the entire Group. All employees are instructed to implement these processes and to constantly improve them by means of specified methodical procedures.
Continuous monitoring and improvement thus forms an important component of the quality management system. This ongoing process allows potential for improvement to be identified, evaluated and implemented.
Quality management is headed up by a member of the executive board. This ensures that the executive board has direct influence and control over the Group's quality management system and that any management errors can be detected and corrected immediately.
CENIT has documented quality management rules in a management manual. It takes account of the ISO 9001:2008 standard.
The executive board defines the corporate policies, strategy and objectives while ensuring awareness and implementation at all levels of the Group. Furthermore, the executive board defines the organisation and areas of responsibility and provides the necessary financial and human resources.
Each year, management specifies detailed targets for the next year – as well as a five-year plan as a guideline.
The annual targets are then broken down at the level of the individual employees.
The executive board examines regularly – but at least once a year – whether the agreed targets have been met or whether they have been missed or exceeded, and whether the process descriptions, laws and standards have been complied with.
Compliance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 is assessed annually, both by internal audits and by an independent external certification body.
The audit performed by DQS (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen), the German company for the assessment and certification of management systems, in 2014 did not reveal any deviations from the requirements of the standard. The certificate is maintained and remains valid.
Employees
To ensure compliance with legal, official and contractual requirements and to safeguard the protection of customer information and CENIT's own information, an information safety management system was installed based on ISO/IEC 27001:2005. ISO 27001 is an internationally recognised standard and is a systematic processbased approach for implementing an information safety management system that takes into account both the technology and the employees while at the same time establishing a continuous monitoring and optimisation process.
The information safety management system is thus a combination of a management system and specific measures, such as physical and personnel safety, the security of IT operations as well as physical and virtual access protection.
The employees are informed of current company developments at quarterly information events. The information required for day-to-day business is either communicated at regular meetings or during individual meetings. Open communication that is based on dialogue is valued.
Compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001:2005 is assessed annually, both by internal audits and by an independent external certification body.
The audit performed by DQS (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen), the German company for the assessment and certification of management systems, in 2014 did not reveal any deviations from the requirements of the standard. The certificate is maintained and remains valid.
| 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| CENIT AG | 556 | 566 |
| CENIT NA | 32 | 35 |
| CENIT CH | 18 | 18 |
| CENIT F | 14 | 13 |
| SPI Numérique | 3 | 0 |
| CENIT RO | 32 | 35 |
| CENIT J | 4 | 4 |
| CENIT Group | 659 | 671 |
One focus of personnel work in 2014 was on expanding the CENIT Campus, the training programme for employees. There was a keen take-up of technical training and soft skill offerings alike. Based on the leadership model of CENIT, a three-year programme for all executives was also developed. The model comprises eight modules in which the executives examine topics from their day-to-day work and fundamental issues such as communication and motivation, change management, success in a team, etc. Another focus area was on recruiting highly qualified staff for CENIT AG in Germany and around the world.
The Group's total headcount as of 31 December 2014 stood at 659 (prior year: 671). CENIT AG, Germany, had 556 employees as of 31 December 2014 (prior year: 566). The majority of those employees have third-level qualifications. Employee turnover stood at around 6% (prior year: 5%). The Group continues to record a very low number of sick days. The average length of service was 9 years with an average age of 42. Personnel expenses in the reporting period came to EUR 49,129 k in the CENIT Group (prior year: EUR 47,728 k) and to EUR 41,048 k at CENIT AG (prior year: EUR 40,826 k).
CENIT has been successfully training apprentices for years. The Group considers this to be part of its responsibility to society and is actively involved in making it easier for young people to start their career through qualified training. In 2014, CENIT AG in Germany had trained a total of 52 young people in various professions by the end of the year. There are plans to increase this number further in the coming years. The apprentices include students from the DHBW (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg – University of Cooperation Education) in the areas of computer science and business and trainees in the IT field. In addition, the Group continuously hires university graduates as well as interns and students who are working on their undergraduate, masters or bachelors thesis.
CENIT offers a comprehensive advanced training programme to broaden the qualifications of its employees and provide them with access to current knowledge and expertise. A large number of employees took advantage of the various advanced training programmes and participated in courses and seminars in the reporting year in order to improve their qualifications. These focused on the topics of quality management, project management, certification for the products of the strategic software partners and training for executives.
Social and societal responsibility is an important matter for the executive board, executives and employees of CENIT and is actively supported. In order to extend the Group's social involvement, which itself has a long tradition, on a long-term basis and to anchor it as a fixed part of CENIT's corporate culture, the Group launched the initiative "CENIT Cares" in November 2013.
As part of the initiative, CENIT and its employees provide financial support or specific hands-on assistance to community projects. The Group provides a defined budget as well as time-based resources (special vacation day) each year for this purpose. All CENIT employees are given the opportunity to propose projects worthy of support as well as the type of support required (financial or hands-on assistance). A committee comprising CENIT employees and executives decides on the approval of the project applications. One of the most important criteria is the personal relationship of an employee to the proposed project.
In November 2014, the CENIT Cares Initiative celebrated its first anniversary and can boast 20 projects realised through donations and/or hands-on support. In addition to numerous campaigns across Germany, projects in Africa, Chile, Serbia and Moldova received support.
Apart from performance-based career opportunities and assumption of responsibility at an early stage, CENIT offers its employees an attractive remuneration policy. Remuneration comprises a fixed salary, which is governed by individual employment agreements, and remuneration components in amounts based on the operating result and on other quantitative and qualitative targets.
The remuneration system for the executive board of CENIT AG comprises a profitbased component and a component that is independent of profit. The profit-based part is based on the Group's earnings for the year.
Pursuant to the articles of incorporation and bylaws, the supervisory board receives fixed compensation. Each member of the supervisory board receives a fixed amount of EUR 15,000 payable after the end of the fiscal year. The chairperson of the supervisory board receives twice that amount, while the deputy chairperson receives one and a half times that amount.
At the time of preparing this report, there were no particular events that could have had a material influence on the net assets, financial position and results of operations of the Company or the Group.
As part of the integration, SPI Numérique was merged into CENIT France with effect as of 1 January 2015.
The German economy is forecast to grow by approximately 1.5% in 2015. According to BITKOM, the ITC industry itself is confident about 2015 and expects growth in information technology to amount to 2.4%.
Based on these expectations, the picture for CENIT is as follows:
CENIT has a solid basis with an equity ratio well in excess of 50%. This allows CENIT to be a strong and reliable partner to its customers.
The positive outlook supports the goal of outpacing market growth. The CENIT Group is planning marginal sales growth of up to 3% in the current year. The individual segments will be in line with the overall development. On the whole, CENIT is anticipating a rise of approximately 5% in earnings too (EBIT), which will be contributed to by both business divisions.
Sales and earnings at CENIT AG in 2015 are expected to match the reporting year, with sales of EUR 103,868 k and EBIT of EUR 7,158 k recorded in 2014. The Company is using its own products and solutions to cover a market that is currently very significant. Developments have to be implemented more and more quickly, and existing processes have to be optimised on a constant basis. This is exactly where CENIT AG supports its customers. CENIT AG's products are competitive and are subject to constant further development. The employees of CENIT AG are competent and possess a high level of technical understanding as well as excellent industry knowledge. With their know-how and their customer gearing, they are essential for the success of the Group.
As was already the case in 2014, 2015 will also see a special focus on further alignment in software development. In order to be competitive on this market in the long term, it is essential to act innovatively and to integrate new technologies in development. In this way, the Company wants to raise its share of its own software in earnings in the long term. The cooperation with the partners Dassault Systèmes, IBM and SAP will be continued on a lasting basis in order to position the Group as a long-term strategic partner.
The personnel expenses will be adjusted in accordance with growth. In 2015, the Group will continue to search for more skilled staff for various areas. CENIT has been successfully training apprentices for years, and training young people is still very important to the Company. Education and training is a component of the long-term personnel policy and the social responsibility toward the young people in our country.
CENIT's liquidity is very healthy, both in the separate financial statements and at group level. The Group's financial situation gives it a competitive edge in tenders and planned projects. It gives CENIT's customers the security they require for their investment decisions.
The CENIT Group's financing is on a secure basis. The finance policy has been managed conservatively for years now, and this is reflected in the continued strong and long-term credit rating as well as the short-term and medium-term provision of sufficient liquidity for a positive development of the Group. The investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in 2015 will be at a similar level to 2014. They will be funded by cash flow from operating activities.
The liquidity lost by paying a dividend can be funded from existing cash and cash equivalents and from the expected cash flow from operating activities in 2015.
With a group-wide opportunities and risk management system, the Group identifies any risks at an early stage in order to assess them correctly and limit them to the extent possible. CENIT observes the risks continuously in order to always assess the probable overall status on a systematic and timely basis and to better judge the effectiveness of corresponding countermeasures. In doing so, the Group takes into account operational risks as well as financial, economic and market-related risks. Opportunities result from the complementary view of the operational and functional risk structure in all risk areas.
CENIT makes appropriate provision at an early stage for all recognisable and accountable risks. Currency risks and default risks are monitored systematically on the basis of guidelines that set out the fundamental strategy, the rules on the structure and organisation of procedures and competence rulings.
The executive board of CENIT has installed a systematic risk management system. Operational risk management encompasses early warning, risk communication and the sustainability of risk control. Risk reporting means that the managers responsible for the business units inform the executive board continuously of the current risk situation. Moreover, risks that occur suddenly and risk with implications for the Group as a whole are communicated directly to the risk managers responsible at CENIT in urgent cases, bypassing normal reporting channels. In accordance with the statutory provisions, the executive board and the supervisory board of CENIT are informed in detail of the risk situation of the business divisions. These reports are supplemented with up-to-date notices as soon as risks change or no longer exist or if new risks emerge. This ensures a continuous flow of information to the executive board and the supervisory board. Compliance with the risk management system by the group companies and their risk management is reviewed using internal quality inspections. The findings obtained in this manner are used for the further improvement of the early detection and controlling of risk.
CENIT is well positioned in its target markets. The Company has a strong market position in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) with regard to medium-sized and larger customers. The risk policy is based on exploiting existing opportunities to the full and only entering into the risks associated with operating activities if the opportunities for creating corresponding added value outweigh the risks. The Group implements this concept by regularly and continuously identifying, assessing and monitoring risks in all material business transactions and processes. Risk management is part of company management and reporting takes place directly to the executive board. The functioning of the system is examined at regular intervals. A risk inventory is also carried out regularly. The six-month or annual risk reporting documents and assesses the risks identified. An ad-hoc risk report is also available to ensure that action can be taken rapidly and informally. A detailed report on the status of the material risks to be monitored documents the assessment, the action taken and planned as well as the persons responsible.
The executive board examines the classified risks together with the department heads and the employees responsible in that business unit. The supervisory board is also informed regularly of the risk situation.
The receivables portfolio may bear risks with respect to recoverability of the receivables (default risk). CENIT counters this risk by ensuring strict receivables management, credit ratings, requesting advance payments and classifying risks at an early stage.
The Group is not dependent on financing by commercial banks. Therefore, there is no liquidity risk according to the executive board. There were no lines of credit available to the subsidiaries in the USA, Switzerland, France, Romania or Japan, and none were required.
Thanks to the excellent capital gearing and available liquidity, the focus is on the acquisition of new technologies for extending and supplementing the Group's own software portfolio.
Also, through expanding our market coverage there is considerable potential to market CENIT's products at an even more international level via partners.
To secure and strengthen the competencies and the commitment of its executives, CENIT will continue to position itself as an attractive employer and strive to keep the executives in the Group for the long term. The elements of consistent management development include in particular creating opportunities, support and advice geared toward specific target groups, early identification and promotion of high-potential staff as well as attractive incentive systems for executives. CENIT employs specialists with several years of professional experience in all of its business units.
Risk monitoring is the task of decentralised and centralised risk management. To do this, the decentralised risk manager defines early warning indicators for the critical success factors. The task of centralised risk management is to monitor the defined early warning indicators. As soon as the specified thresholds are met, a risk report is prepared by the decentralised risk manager, i.e. a forecast of the expected impact on CENIT if the risk occurs. Ideally these forecasts are supplemented with scenario analyses that take into account different constellations of data. Using this information and the measures proposed by the decentralised risk managers and the central risk management system, the executive board decides whether and to what extent measures should be taken to mitigate the risk or whether it is perhaps necessary to adjust the corporate objectives. Tracking the early warning indicators and monitoring the corresponding threshold values as well as carrying out the scenario analyses is the responsibility of decentralised risk management.
Finally, it should be noted that the Company uses numerous management and control systems that are continually refined to measure, monitor and control risks. These include a uniform group-wide strategy, planning and budgeting process dealing mainly with opportunities and risks from operations. The risks identified and the risk management measures defined within the strategy, planning and budgeting process are monitored. Tracking and mitigating risks pays off, for example in the change request process for certainty as regards deadlines and technical risks. With large projects in particular, the certainty that the contract will be continued is checked.
Further growth and, in turn, lasting economic success are affected not just by the economic risks on global markets, but to a large extent also by the successful marketing of CENIT solutions and consultancy services as well as of the IT services. Among other things, this is to be achieved by expanding the Group's own sales and consultancy know-how and by entering into strategic partnerships. Two thirds of the customers come from the manufacturing industry. Fluctuations in the business cycle in the manufacturing industry can, in some cases, have an impact on the business situation. The Company has concluded insurance policies to cover potential cases of damage and liability risks and to ensure that the financial consequences of any potential risks are limited. The scope of these policies is regularly reviewed and adjusted if required. With respect to the necessary IT security, CENIT has also made extensive risk provision and continually develops this further.
A review of the current risk situation has shown that there were no risks in the reporting period that jeopardised the continued existence of the Group as a going concern and that no such risks are foreseeable at present for the future. Provisions have been recorded for all recognised risks. Furthermore, as of the balance sheet date there are no other risks that could have a material impact on the net assets, financial position or results of operations. The risk management and early warning system makes transparent corporate governance and early detection of risks possible. Due to the fact that most purchase and sales contracts are denominated in euro and in light of the current financing structure, no use has currently been made of derivative financial instruments to hedge currency risks.
An overall analysis of risk shows that CENIT is primarily exposed to market risks. These mainly include price and quantity developments linked to the business cycle as well as the dependence on the development of key accounts or important industries. The Group is also dependent on the general economic situation, the development of which currently hinges on the events in the finance and banking sectors. There is also a risk in specialising with technology partners and the related dependence on their business development.
The risk of price erosion observed on the market is countered by means of highquality service.
The main features of the internal control system and the risk management in place at CENIT in relation to the accounting and group financial reporting process can be described as follows:
There is a clear management and company structure at the Company and in the other group companies. The functions of the main areas in terms of the accounting and group financial reporting process, namely accounting and taxes, consolidation and controlling as well as investor relations, are clearly separated. The areas of responsibility are clearly allocated.
The financial systems used are protected from unauthorised access by corresponding IT systems. Standard software is used in the finance area in as far as possible. An appropriate system of guidelines ensures uniform treatment within the Company/Group and is constantly updated.
The departments and areas involved in the accounting/group financial reporting process are suitably equipped from both a quantitative and a qualitative perspective. Accounting data received or passed on are checked constantly for completeness and accuracy, e.g. by means of spot checks. The software used carries out programmed plausibility checks.
The principle of dual control is complied with for all accounting-related processes. In terms of the propriety and reliability of the internal accounting and external financial reporting, the corresponding supervisory committees (supervisory board) are in place.
The internal control and risk management system in relation to the accounting and group financial reporting process, the main features of which were described above, ensures that company matters are always recorded, compiled and evaluated correctly for accounting purposes and transferred to the accounting and financial reporting. Appropriate personnel capacities, the use of suitable software and clear statutory as well as internal company regulations provide the basis for an orderly, uniform and consistent accounting and financial reporting process. The clear demarcation of the areas of responsibility as well as various control and monitoring mechanisms ensure specific and responsible accounting. In detail, this ensures that business transactions are recorded, processed and documented in accordance with the statutory provisions, the articles of incorporation and bylaws as well as internal guidelines and that they are recorded correctly for accounting purposes and on a timely basis. At the same time it ensures that assets and liabilities are disclosed, recognised and valued accurately in the annual and consolidated financial statements and that reliable and relevant information is provided in full and on a timely basis.
As per the most recent entry in the commercial register on 14 August 2006, the capital stock of the Company amounts to EUR 8,367,758.00 and has been fully paid in. It is divided into 8,367,758 no-par value shares of EUR 1.00 each. The shares are made out to the bearer and are all no-par value common shares. The rights and duties relating to possession of the common shares stem from the AktG.
The appointment and dismissal of executive board members is regulated in Sec. 84 AktG. Furthermore, Article 7 Nos. 1 and 2 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws states that the supervisory board appoints the executive board members and determines the number of executive board members. Pursuant to Article 7 No. 1 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws, the executive board comprises at least two persons.
The provisions to amend the articles of incorporation and bylaws are regulated in Secs. 133, 179 AktG. Additionally, Article 21 No. 1 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws states that resolutions of the shareholder meeting require a simple majority of the votes cast and, where required, the simple controlling interest, unless legal regulations or the articles of incorporation and bylaws prescribe otherwise. The supervisory board is entitled pursuant to Article 16 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws to make amendments to the articles of incorporation and bylaws that only affect the version.
Reversing the authorisation to acquire treasury shares dated 29 May 2009, the executive board was authorised to purchase, with the approval of the supervisory board, the Company's treasury no-par value shares (common shares) on behalf of the Company once or several times until 27 May 2015 for the purpose of redemption. The redemption does not require any further shareholder resolutions.
The executive board was further authorised to purchase, with the approval of the supervisory board, the Company's treasury no-par value shares (common shares) on behalf of the Company once or several times until 27 May 2015 for the purpose of resale. Upon resale, which is subject to approval by the supervisory board, the executive board is authorised to carry out the following measures:
The unit price (excluding incidental selling costs) at which the treasury shares are sold cannot fall materially below the average price of the Company's common shares on the Frankfurt stock exchange during the last five days prior to concluding the agreement on acquiring a company or an equity investment in a company, calculated on the basis of the arithmetic mean of the closing price of the Company's common shares on the XETRA platform (or a functionally comparable successor system taking the place of the XETRA system).
Based on the aforementioned authorisation, together with other treasury shares already purchased and still held by the Company, the Company can purchase a total maximum of treasury common stock that accounts for an arithmetical share of 10% of the Company's capital stock. The transaction value for a share (excluding incidental acquisition costs) cannot deviate from the share price by more than 10%. The authoritative share price is the average price of the Company's common shares on the Frankfurt stock exchange during the last five days prior to acquiring the shares, calculated on the basis of the arithmetic mean of the closing price of the Company's common shares on the XETRA platform (or a functionally comparable successor system taking the place of the XETRA system). In the event of redemption, the supervisory board is authorised to amend the version of the articles of incorporation and bylaws in accordance with the scope of the capital reduction.
Reversing the authorisation dated 13 June 2006 to increase the capital stock, the executive board was authorised, with the approval of the supervisory board, to increase the capital stock by up to EUR 4,183,879.00 in total by 25 May 2016 by issuing on one or more occasions new no-par value bearer shares in return for cash contributions and/or contributions in kind (authorised capital 2012). The number of shares must increase in direct proportion to the increase in capital stock. The shareholders must be given a subscription right. The new shares can also be assumed by one bank or by several banks with the obligation to offer them to the Company's shareholders for purchase.
However, the management board is authorised, with the approval of the supervisory board, to preclude the shareholders' statutory subscription right in the following cases:
The total number of shares issued based on this authorisation in return for cash contributions and contributions in kind with exclusion of the subscription right of the shareholders cannot exceed a pro rata amount of capital stock of EUR 1,673,551.00 (20% of current capital stock). The executive board is authorised, subject to approval of the supervisory board, to decide on further details of the capital increase and the conditions of the share issue.
The supervisory board is authorised to adjust the version of Article 5 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws after partial or full implementation of the increase in capital stock in accordance with the respective utilisation of the authorised capital.
The management board and supervisory board of the Company have issued the corporate governance statement for 2014 prescribed by Sec. 289a HGB and have made it available on the homepage at: http://www.cenit.com/de_DE/investorrelations/corporate-governance.html.
Stuttgart, 27 February 2015
CENIT Aktiengesellschaft
The Management Board
Kurt Bengel Matthias Schmidt Spokesman, Management Board Member, Management Board
| CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (in accordance with IFRS) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 | |||||||
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 | |||||
| ASSETS | |||||||
| NON-CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||
| Intangible assets | F1 | 3,910 | 3,619 | ||||
| Property, plant and equipment | F2 | 2,488 | 2,567 | ||||
| Investments in associates | F3 | 54 | 54 | ||||
| Income tax receivable | F9 | 169 | 250 | ||||
| Other long-term receivable | F7 | 83 | 157 | ||||
| Other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss | F8 | 0 | 2,000 | ||||
| Deferred tax assets | F4 | 248 | 89 | ||||
| NON-CURRENT ASSETS | 6,952 | 8,736 | |||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||
| Inventories Trade receivables |
F5 F6 |
7 | 4 | ||||
| Receivables from associates | F6 | 17,377 | 14,811 | ||||
| Current income tax assets | F9 | 3,265 | 3,455 | ||||
| Other receivables | F7 | 978 | 745 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | F10 | 181 | 138 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses | F11 | 33,250 | 26,632 | ||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | 4,875 | 5,838 | |||||
| 59,933 | 51,623 | ||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 66,885 | 60,359 |
| CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (in accordance with IFRS) For the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in EUR k 31 Dec. 2014 31 Dec. 2013 |
||||||
| EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | ||||||
| EQUITY | ||||||
| Subscribed capital | F12 | 8,368 | 8,368 | |||
| Capital reserves | F12 | 1,058 | 1,058 | |||
| Currency translation reserve | F12 | 549 | 97 | |||
| Legal reserve | F12 | 418 | 418 | |||
| Other revenue reserves | F12 | 14,648 | 15,607 | |||
| Retained earnings | F12 | 14,311 | 10,382 | |||
| TOTAL EQUITY | 39,352 | 35,930 | ||||
| NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Other liabilities Deferred tax liabilities |
F15 F4 |
2,236 653 |
1,417 842 |
|||
| NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES | 2,889 | 2,259 | ||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||
| Trade payables | F14 | 4,168 | 4,028 | |||
| Liabilities to associates | F14 | 51 | 37 | |||
| Other liabilities | F15 | 12,571 | 11,430 | |||
| Current income tax liabilities | F13 | 537 | 621 | |||
| Other provisions | F13 | 820 | 113 | |||
| Deferred income | 6,497 | 5,941 | ||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | 24,644 | 22,170 | ||||
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | 66,885 | 60,359 |
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | REVENUE | E1 | 123,394 | 118,921 | ||
| 2. | Other operating income | E3 | 634 | 1,222 | ||
| Operating performance | 124,028 | 120,143 | ||||
| 3. | Cost of materials | E4 | 48,829 | 46,901 | ||
| 4. | Personnel expenses | E5 | 49,129 | 47,728 | ||
| 5. | Amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment |
F1+F2 | 2,334 | 2,303 | ||
| 6. | Other operating expenses | E7 | 14,408 | 14,880 | ||
| 114,700 | 111,812 | |||||
| NET OPERATING INCOME | 9,328 | 8,331 | ||||
| 7. | Other interest and similar income | E8 | 157 | 98 | ||
| 8. | Interest and similar expenses | E8 | 80 | 49 | ||
| 77 | 49 | |||||
| RESULT FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIES | 9,405 | 8,380 | ||||
| 9. | Income taxes | E10 | 3,047 | 2,501 | ||
| NET INCOME OF THE GROUP FOR THE YEAR | 6,358 | 5,879 | ||||
| thereof attributable to the shareholders of CENIT | 6,358 | 5,879 | ||||
| Earnings per share in EUR | ||||||
| basic | E11 | 0.76 | 0.70 | |||
| diluted | E11 | 0.76 | 0.70 |
| CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (in accordance with IFRS) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 | ||
| Net income for the year | 6,358 | 5,879 | ||
| Other comprehensive income | ||||
| Items that will be reclassified to the income statement in the future under certain circumstances |
||||
| Currency translation reserve of foreign subsidiaries | 452 | -165 | ||
| Items that will not be reclassified tot he income statement in the future |
||||
| Actuarial gains/losses from defined benefit obligations and similar obligations |
-588 | 218 | ||
| Deferred taxes recognised on other comprehensive income |
129 | -48 | ||
| Other comprehensive income after tax | -7 | 5 | ||
| Total comprehensive income | 6,351 | 5,884 | ||
| thereof attributable tot he shareholders of CENIT | 6,351 | 5,884 | ||
| in EUR k | Subscribed | Capital | Currency | Revenue reserves | Retained | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| capital | reserves | translation reserve |
Legal reserve |
Other reserves |
earnings | ||
| As of 31 December 2012 |
8,368 | 1,058 | 262 | 418 | 13,537 | 11,005 | 34,648 |
| Total comprehensive income |
-165 | 170 | 5,879 | 5,884 | |||
| Allocation to other revenue reserves |
1,900 | -1,900 | 0 | ||||
| Dividend distribution | -4,602 | -4,602 | |||||
| As of 31 December 2013 |
8,368 | 1,058 | 97 | 418 | 15,607 | 10,382 | 35,930 |
| Total comprehensive income |
452 | -459 | 6,358 | 6,351 | |||
| Allocation to other revenue reserves |
-500 | 500 | 0 | ||||
| Dividend distribution | -2,929 | -2,929 | |||||
| As of 31 December 2014 |
8,368 | 1,058 | 549 | 418 | 14,648 | 14,311 | 39,352 |
| CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (in accordance with IFRS) |
||
|---|---|---|
| for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 | ||
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
| Cash flow from operating activities | ||
| Earnings before interest and taxes | 9,328 | 8,331 |
| Adjusted for: | ||
| Amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment |
2,334 | 2,303 |
| Gains (-) and losses (+) on disposals of non-current assets | 1 | 11 |
| Other non-cash income and expenses | 0 | 6 |
| Increase/decrease in other non-current assets and liabilities and provisions | 293 | 85 |
| Interest paid | -80 | -49 |
| Interest received | 157 | 98 |
| Income tax paid | -3,669 | -3,813 |
| Net operating income before changes in net working capital | 8,364 | 6,972 |
| Increase/decrease in trade receivables and other current non-cash assets | -944 | 537 |
| Increase/decrease in inventories | -2 | 83 |
| Increase/decrease in current liabilities and provisions | 1,983 | 1,262 |
| Net cash flows from operating activities | 9,401 | 8,854 |
| Cash flow from investing activities | ||
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets | -1,738 | -1,226 |
| Purchase of shares of consolidated entities | -574 | 0 |
| Income from the sale of property, plant and equipment | 9 | 7 |
| Change in other financial assets, not attributed to cash and cash equivalents |
2,000 | 0 |
| Net cash paid for investing activities | -303 | -1,219 |
| Cash flow from financing activities | ||
| Dividends paid to shareholders | -2,929 | -4,602 |
| Net cash paid for financing activities | -2,929 | -4,602 |
| Net increase/decrease in cash and cash equivalents | 6,169 | 3,033 |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents due to foreign exchange differences | 449 | -180 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period | 26,632 | 23,779 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period | 33,250 | 26,632 |
The parent company of the Group, CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, has its registered offices at Industriestrasse 52 - 54, 70565 Stuttgart, Germany, and is filed in the commercial register of Stuttgart district court, department B, under No. 19117. The shares of CENIT are publicly traded.
The business purpose of the group entities is to provide all types of services in the field of introducing and operating information technology and to sell and market information technology software and systems. With a focus on product life cycle and document management solutions and IT outsourcing, CENIT's two business units PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) and EIM (Enterprise Information Management) offer tailored consultancy services from a single source. CENIT's focus is on business process optimisation and computer-aided design and development technologies.
The consolidated financial statements of CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart, are prepared and published in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU and the additional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to Sec. 315a (1) HGB ["Handelsgesetzbuch": German Commercial Code], and are released by the executive board to the supervisory board for approval. The consolidated financial statements are thus authorised for publication. This will take place on 20 March 2015.
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in euro. To aid clarity, all figures are presented in thousands of euro (EUR k) unless otherwise indicated. The end of the reporting period is 31 December of any given year.
For the classification for the statement of financial position, a distinction is made between current and non-current assets and liabilities; in the notes, they are broken down in detail by their term to maturity in some cases. The income statement is classified using the nature of expense method.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of historical cost (acquisition cost principle) apart from financial assets that are held for trading or are classified on initial recognition as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and are thus reported at fair value.
The annual financial statements of the entities included in the consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the parent company's uniform accounting policies as of the end of its reporting period.
Compared with the consolidated financial statements as of 31 December 2013, the following standards and interpretations were mandatory for the first time:
The adoption of these standards did not have any impact on the CENIT Group.
Compared with the consolidated financial statements as of 31 December 2013, the following standards and interpretations were mandatory for the first time but did not have any material relevance for the CENIT Group from a current perspective:
The following IFRSs adopted by the EU were issued by the end of the reporting period but are not mandatory until later reporting periods. The CENIT Group decided not to early adopt the standard and interpretations that are not mandatory until later reporting periods.
| Amendment/Standard | Date of publication |
Date of transposition into EU law |
Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual improvements to IFRS – 2011 to 2013 cycle |
12 December 2013 | 18 December 2014 | 1 July 2014 |
| Annual improvements to IFRS – 2010 to 2012 cycle |
12 December 2013 | 17 December 2014 | 1 July 2014 |
| Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions (Amendments to IAS 19) |
21 November 2013 | 17 December 2014 | 1 July 2014 |
| IFRIC 21 – Levies | 20 May 2013 | 13 June 2014 | 17 June 2014 |
The accounting policies used in the prior year have been used without change to prepare the consolidated financial statements.
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the parent and of the entities it controls (its subsidiaries).
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue to be consolidated until the date that such control by the parent ceases.
CENIT France SARL acquired 100% of the voting shares in SPI Numérique SARL as of 6 March 2014. With the acquisition of SPI Numérique SARL with its registered offices in Dardilly, France, CENIT has extended its software portfolio. The acquisition cost totalled EUR 833 k.
The fair values of the identifiable assets and liabilities of SPI Numérique SARL as of the acquisition date and the corresponding carrying amounts directly before the acquisition date are as follows:
| in EUR k | Fair value as of the acquisition date |
Carrying amount to date |
|---|---|---|
| Intangible assets | 748 | 1 |
| Property, plant and equipment and financial assets |
38 | 38 |
| Trade receivables, other receivables | 165 | 165 |
| Prepaid expenses | 12 | 12 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 259 | 259 |
| Total assets | 1,222 | 475 |
| Trade payables, other liabilities and other provisions |
125 | 125 |
| Deferred income | 15 | 15 |
| Deferred tax liabilities | 249 | 0 |
| Total liabilities | 389 | 140 |
| Total net assets acquired | 833 | 335 |
| Consideration (excluding ancillary costs) | 833 |
The cash outflow on account of this acquisition amounted to EUR 574 k and stemmed from the outflow through the payment of the acquisition cost (EUR 833 k) and the acquired cash and cash equivalents of SPI Numérique SARL amounting to EUR 259 k. The ancillary costs incurred in connection with the acquisition amounting to EUR 112 k were recognised in other operating expenses.
SPI Numérique SARL has recorded revenue of EUR 399 k since belonging to the Group.
The Group's investments in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
Intercompany sales, income and expenses and all intercompany receivables and liabilities were eliminated.
The following entities have been included in the consolidated financial statements of CENIT in accordance with IFRS 10 or IFRS 11/IAS 28 respectively:
| No. | Entity | Currency | % | from | Sub scribed capital LC k |
Date of purchase accounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CENIT Aktiengesellschaft Stuttgart, Germany |
EUR | --- | --- | 8,368 | Parent |
| 2 | CENIT (Schweiz) AG Effretikon, Switzerland |
CHF | 100 | 1 | 500 | 26 October 1999 |
| 3 | CENIT North America Inc. Auburn Hills, USA |
USD | 100 | 1 | 25 | 29 November 2001 |
| 4 | CENIT SRL Iasi, Romania |
RON | 100 | 1 | 344 | 22 May 2006 |
| 5 | CENIT France SARL Toulouse, France |
EUR | 100 | 1 | 10 | 26 April 2007 |
| 6 | SPI Numérique SARL Dardilly, France |
EUR | 100 | 5 | 8 | 6 March 2014 |
| 7 | CENIT Japan K.K. Tokyo, Japan |
YEN | 100 | 1 | 34,000 | 13 May 2011 |
| 8 | CenProCS AIRliance GmbH Stuttgart, Germany |
EUR | 33.3 | 1 | 150 | 16 November 2007 |
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange, plus costs directly attributable to the acquisition.
The goodwill resulting from the acquisition of a subsidiary or of an entity under common control is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of the business combination over the Group's share in the net fair value of the acquiree's identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities. In subsequent periods, goodwill is measured at cost less all accumulated impairment losses. If the acquirer's share in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities exceeds the cost of acquiring the company, the excess amount remaining after reassessment is recognised in profit or loss. There is no goodwill in the consolidated financial statements.
CENIT has held a 33.33% investment in a joint venture, CenProCS AIRliance GmbH (CenProCS), since 16 November 2007. A contractual agreement has been signed by the shareholders, CENIT AG Stuttgart, PROSTEP AG Darmstadt and CS SI LePlessis Robinson, France, on the provision of packaged services by the shareholders in the area of information technology as well as the coordination and marketing of these services.
The CENIT Group accounts for its investment in CenProCS using the equity method. Under the equity method, the investment in CenProCS is carried in the statement of financial position at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the CENIT Group's share of net assets of CenProCS. During formation of the entity, CENIT AG made a cash contribution of EUR 50 k.
The income statement reflects the CENIT Group's share of CenProCS's profit. Where there has been a change recognised directly in equity, the Group recognises its share of such changes and discloses this, when applicable, in the statement of changes in equity. Gains and losses on transactions between the Group and the joint venture are eliminated in proportion to the investment in CenProCS.
The financial statements of CenProCS are prepared with the same end of the reporting period as the financial statements of the parent. Where necessary, adjustments are made to comply with the Group's uniform accounting policies.
After application of the equity method to the CENIT Group's investment in CenProCS, the parent company determines whether it is necessary to recognise an additional impairment loss on the investment. The Group determines at the end of each reporting period whether there is any objective evidence that the investment in the joint venture is impaired. If this is the case, the Group calculates the amount of impairment as being the difference between the fair value of the investment in CenProCS and the acquisition cost and recognises the amount in the income statement.
The presentation currency is the parent company's functional currency. The functional currency concept is applied to translate the financial statements prepared in foreign currency by the entities included in the basis of consolidation. The functional currency of the group entities is their respective local currency. Financial statements prepared in functional currency are translated to the Group's presentation currency using the modified closing rate method. Using this method, assets and liabilities are translated at the closing rate, while equity is translated at the historical rate and income and expenses at the annual average rate.
The difference arising from translation of the individual financial statements is recognised directly in equity. When subsidiaries are sold, the exchange differences recognised in equity relating to these entities are released to profit or loss.
Foreign currency transactions are generally translated at the current rate of the transaction date. At the end of the reporting period, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated to the functional currency at the annual closing rate. Non-monetary items that were measured at their historical cost are translated at the rate of the transaction date, while non-monetary items that were measured at their fair value are translated at the rate which was current at the time the fair value was determined. Differences arising from currency translation at closing rates are recognised in profit or loss.
| in EUR | Closing rate | Annual average rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |
| CHF | 1.2024 | 1.2276 | 1.2146 | 1.2311 |
| USD | 1.2141 | 1.3791 | 1.3285 | 1.3281 |
| RON | 4.4828 | 4.4710 | 4.4437 | 4.4190 |
| YEN | 145.23 | 144.72 | 140.31 | 129.66 |
The following exchange rates were used for currency translation:
Purchased intangible assets are stated at amortised cost including incidental acquisition cost. They are reduced by amortisation over the expected useful life, usually three years, using the straight-line method.
In the case of intangible assets acquired for consideration in connection with a business combination, the acquisition costs of the intangible assets are equal to their fair value. They are reduced by amortisation over the expected useful life using the straight-line method. The useful life of the identified customer base is seven or ten years, ten years for software and one year for the identified order backlog as well for other intangible assets generally three years.
As of the end of both reporting periods, the statement of financial position did not include any intangible assets with an indefinite useful life.
Internally generated intangible assets are not capitalised due to non-fulfilment of the cumulative criteria in IAS 38.57. Non-capitalisable development costs were expensed.
Property, plant and equipment is recognised at cost, net of accumulated straightline depreciation and/or accumulated impairment losses. Maintenance costs are recorded directly as expenses. Items of property, plant and equipment are depreciated on the basis of their estimated useful lives. The useful life of plant and machinery is three to five years, and five to ten years for furniture and fixtures. Buildings on the Group's premises are depreciated over a period of 33 years, or 8 to 15 years for land improvements. Buildings on third-party land (leasehold improvements) are depreciated over the terms of the lease agreements. No material residual values had to be considered when determining depreciation.
Residual values, depreciation and amortisation methods and the useful life of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are reviewed annually and adjusted if changes take place. Any changes required are taken into account prospectively as changes in estimates.
Intangible assets or property, plant and equipment are derecognised either upon disposal or when no further economic benefits are expected from their further use or disposal. Any gain or loss arising on derecognition of the asset (calculated as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset) is included in the income statement in the period in which the asset is derecognised in the items for other operating income or other operating expenses.
An impairment test is performed at the end of each reporting period for all intangible assets and property, plant and equipment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Whenever the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss for items of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets carried at cost.
A reversal of impairment losses recognised in prior years is recorded when there is an indication that the impairment losses recognised for the asset no longer exist or could have decreased. The reversal is posted as a gain in the income statement. The increased carrying amount cannot exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of amortisation or depreciation, if no impairment loss had been recognised for the asset in prior years.
The determination of whether an arrangement is or contains a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement and requires an estimate of whether fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets and the arrangement conveys a right to use the asset.
Operating lease payments are recognised as an other operating expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term. There were no finance leases in the reporting period. In addition, the Group does not act as a lessor.
Pursuant to IAS 39, a financial instrument is a contract that gives rise to both a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity instrument of another entity. Financial assets include in particular cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and other loans and receivables originated by the entity, held-to-maturity investments and primary and derivative financial instruments held for trading. Financial liabilities generally give rise to the right to receive settlement in cash or another financial asset. Financial instruments are recognised as soon as CENIT becomes party to the contractual provisions of the financial instrument.
Financial assets as defined by IAS 39 are broken down into financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables, held-to-maturity investments or available-for-sale financial assets. All financial assets are recognised initially at fair value plus, in the case of investments which are not at measured fair value through profit or loss, any transaction costs directly attributable to the purchase of the financial asset. The Group determines the classification of its financial assets upon initial recognition and, where allowed and appropriate, reassesses this designation at the end of each reporting period.
Regular way purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised as of the trading date, i.e. the date on which the entity entered into the obligation to purchase the asset ("trade date accounting").
The category of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss includes financial assets held for trading and financial assets classified upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss. Financial assets are classified as held for trading if they are acquired for the purpose of selling in the near future. Derivative financial instruments are also classified as held for trading unless they are designated as a hedging instrument and are effective as such. Gains or losses on financial assets held for trading are recognised in profit or loss. The net gain or loss recognised includes any dividends and interest of the financial asset.
Non-derivative financial assets with fixed or at least determinable payments and fixed maturity are classified as held-to-maturity if the Group intends and is able to hold these to maturity. Investments intended to be held for an indefinite period are not included in this category.
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. These assets are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Gains and losses are recognised in net profit or loss for the period when the loans and receivables are derecognised or impaired, as well as through the amortisation process.
Available-for-sale financial assets are those non-derivative financial assets that are not classified as one of the three categories above. Subsequent to initial recognition, available-for-sale financial assets are measured at fair value, and any gain or loss is recognised in a separate item under equity. On derecognition of the investment or identification of impairment, any cumulative gain or loss that had previously been recognised directly in equity is recognised in profit or loss.
The Group does not hold any available-for-sale financial assets.
Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to receive cash flows from the financial asset have expired or the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset are transferred to a third party. If the Group has neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset nor transferred control of the asset, the Group recognises an asset to the extent of the Group's continuing involvement in the asset and a corresponding liability for any consideration that the Group could be required to pay. If the Group retains substantially all risks and rewards of a transferred financial asset, the Group must continue to recognise the financial asset and a secured loan for the consideration received.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the obligations specified in the contract have been discharged, cancelled, or have expired. When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as the derecognition of the original liability and the recognition of a new liability. The difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised in the income statement.
The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. Any impairment losses as a result of fair value falling short of the carrying amount are recognised in profit or loss.
If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss on loans and receivables carried at amortised cost has been incurred, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows (with the exception of future credit defaults) discounted at the original effective interest rate of the financial asset (i.e. the interest rate determined upon initial recognition). The carrying amount of the asset is reduced either directly or by using an allowance account. The amount of the loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed. The amount of the reversal is recognised in profit or loss provided the carrying amount of the asset at the time of reversal does not exceed amortised cost.
Trade receivables, which generally have 30 to 90-day terms, are recognised at the original invoice amount less an allowance for any uncollectible amounts. An impairment loss is recognised if there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect the receivable. Receivables are written off as soon as they become uncollectible. Credit risks are taken into account through adequate specific valuation allowances.
If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss has been incurred on an unquoted equity instrument that is not carried at fair value because its fair value cannot be reliably measured, or on a derivative asset that is linked to and must be settled by delivery of such an unquoted equity instrument, the amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the financial asset and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset.
If an available-for-sale asset is impaired, an amount is recognised in equity for the difference between its cost (net of any principal repayment and amortisation) and current fair value less any impairment loss on that asset previously recognised in profit or loss. Reversals of impairment losses on equity instruments classified as available-for-sale are not recognised in the profit or loss for the period. Reversals of impairment losses on debt instruments are recognised in profit or loss if the increase in the instrument's fair value can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised in profit or loss.
Derivative financial instruments are generally used to increase the return on investment and for hedging purposes. These derivative financial instruments are initially carried at the fair value on the date on which the relevant contract was concluded and are then subsequently remeasured at fair value. Derivative financial instruments are carried as assets when the fair value is positive and as liabilities when the fair value is negative.
If derivative financial instruments do not satisfy the criteria for hedge accounting, any gains or losses from changes in fair value are immediately recognised in profit or loss.
The inventories reported are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Costs of conversion are determined on the basis of full production-related costs. Net realisable value is the estimated sales proceeds less estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale.
Cash and short-term deposits in the statement of financial position comprise cash on hand, bank balances and short-term deposits with an original maturity of less than three months.
Pension obligations and similar obligations result from obligations to employees. The amounts payable in connection with defined contribution plans are expensed as soon as the obligation to pay arises and reported as personnel expenses. Prepayments of contributions are capitalised to the extent that these prepayments will lead to repayment or a reduction in future payments.
The LOB pension plans in place in Switzerland qualify as defined benefit plans in accordance with IAS 19 due to the statutory minimum interest and conversion rate guarantees. The cost of providing benefits under these benefit plans is determined using the projected unit credit method. The Group recognises actuarial gains and losses in full in other comprehensive income in the period in which they occur. Such actuarial gains and losses are also immediately recognised in revenue reserves and are not reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods. The plan assets available to cover the pension obligations are offset against the pension obligations in accordance with the rules in IAS 19.
Financial liabilities are classified either as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss or as other financial liabilities.
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss include financial liabilities held for trading and other financial liabilities designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss.
Financial liabilities are classified as held for trading if they are acquired for the purpose of selling in the near term. Gains or losses on liabilities held for trading are recognised in profit and loss.
Other financial liabilities are initially recognised at fair value less transaction costs. After initial recognition, other financial liabilities are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, with interest expenses recognised based on the effective interest rate. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of allocating the interest expenses to the respective periods.
Provisions are reported at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation. They are created for legal or constructive obligations resulting from past events when it is probable that the settlement of the obligation will lead to an outflow of resources and the amount of the obligation can be reliably estimated. Where the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, for example under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to the provision is presented in the income statement net of any reimbursement. Provisions are discounted where the effect of discounting is material. The discount rate chosen is a pre-tax rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. Discount rate adjustments are recorded as an interest expense.
Liabilities are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements as contingent liabilities for possible obligations that arise from past events and whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the entity.
A contingent liability is not disclosed if the possibility of an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits is remote.
Government grants in accordance with IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance are only reported when there is sufficient guarantee that the associated conditions will be satisfied and the grants issued. When the grant relates to an expense item, it is recognised as income over the period necessary to match the grant on a systematic basis to the costs that it is intended to compensate. Among others, grants related to personnel expenses are offset against expenses in the period in which they are granted.
Current tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods should be measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. The current tax expense is determined on the basis of the taxable income for the year. Taxable income differs from the net profit taken from the consolidated income statement in that it does not include expenses and income that are never taxable or tax deductible or only taxable or tax deductible in later years. The calculation is based on the tax rates and tax laws applicable as of the end of the reporting period.
Deferred taxes are recorded on temporary differences between the tax base and the carrying amount in the consolidated financial statements according to the balance-sheet-oriented liability method described in IAS 12.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised in principle for all taxable temporary differences.
Deferred tax assets are recognised in principle for all deductible temporary differences, unused tax losses and unused tax assets to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences and the unused tax losses and unused tax assets can be utilised.
The carrying amount of the deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow the benefit of part or all of that deferred tax asset to be utilised. Unrecognised deferred tax assets are reassessed at the end of each reporting period and are recognised to the extent that it has become probable that future taxable profit will allow the deferred tax asset to be realised.
Deferred taxes on temporary differences are calculated at the tax rate that is expected to apply for the period when the asset is realised or the liability is settled. Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are calculated according to the laws and regulations applicable as of the end of the reporting period or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period.
Deferred tax assets are only recognised on unused tax losses to the extent that it is probable that future taxable income will be available for offsetting. The carrying amount of the deferred tax assets is reviewed for impairment as of the end of every reporting period and reduced by the amount for which sufficient tax profits are no longer likely to be available.
Income tax implications related to the items posted directly to equity are also recorded directly under equity.
Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset if the Group has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and current tax liabilities and these relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on the same taxable entity.
Revenue, expenses and assets are recognised net of VAT. The following are exceptions to this rule:
The amount of VAT recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included as part of receivables or payables in the statement of financial position.
Revenue is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Group and the revenue can be reliably measured. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration. In addition, the following conditions must be satisfied in order for revenue to be recognised:
Revenue is reported net of VAT and after deduction of any rebate or discount granted. Sales are recognised as revenue on the date of delivery to the customer. Income received for the provision of services is recognised in accordance with the rules in IAS 11 Construction Contracts.
When the outcome of a construction contract can be estimated reliably, contract revenue and contract costs associated with the construction contract should be recognised as part of the contract costs incurred for the work in relation to the expected contract costs by reference to the stage of completion of the contract activity at the end of the reporting period. Changes to contracted work, claims and bonus payments are included to the extent that they are agreed with the customer. If the outcome of a construction contract cannot be measured reliably, contract revenue is recognised only to the extent of contract costs incurred that it is probable will be recoverable. Contract costs are recognised as expenses in the period in which they are incurred. If it is probable that total contract costs will exceed total contract revenue, the expected loss is recognised as an expense immediately. An expected loss on a construction contract is recognised as an expense immediately as soon as this loss is probable.
Revenue is recognised on an accrual basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreement. Time-based usage fees are recognised on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement.
Dividend income is recognised when the Group's right to receive the payment is established.
Income is recognised as the interest accrues (using the effective interest method, i.e. the rate used to discount estimated future cash flows over the expected life of the financial instrument to the net carrying amount of the financial asset). Interest paid or received is disclosed as interest income and interest expenses.
According to the opinion of the executive board, the following judgements had the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements.
Determining the percentage of completion is subject to certain discretionary decisions with regard to calculating the contract costs yet to be incurred. The estimate is made conscientiously based on the knowledge available as of the end of the reporting period.
Floating-rate investments are classified and measured at fair value through profit or loss. Further explanations are contained in note F. 8.
Decisions based on estimates mainly relate to provisions for which the best estimate of the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised and to valuation allowances. Further explanations are contained in notes F. 6. and F. 13.
A limited group of employees was granted virtual stock options in the 2010 reporting period, i.e. share appreciation rights that can only be settled in cash (cash-settled transactions).
These virtual stock options constitute a special form of performance-based remuneration that is linked to the development of the share price rather than the net income or loss for the year.
The costs resulting from cash-settled transactions were measured at fair value as of the grant date using a valuation model. This fair value is expensed over the period until the vesting date with recognition of a corresponding liability. The liability is remeasured at the end of each reporting period. Changes in fair value are recognised in the employee benefits expense. The corresponding liability is reported in accrued liabilities.
The last option was exercised in the past fiscal year. There was no liability to employees from stock options as of 31 December 2014.
The breakdown of revenue by business unit and region is presented in the segment reporting in note H. The revenue results from ordinary activities.
Revenue is essentially composed of the following income items:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| CENIT consulting and service | 53,943 | 55,631 |
| CENIT software | 12,728 | 12,791 |
| Third-party software | 56,251 | 50,248 |
| Merchandise | 472 | 251 |
| Total | 123,394 | 118,921 |
Revenue includes sales from construction contracts (PoC) totalling EUR 2,975 k (prior year: EUR 2,551 k). This income is subject to contract costs of EUR 1,794 k (prior year: EUR 1,569 k). This results in a profit from construction contracts of EUR 1,181 k (prior year: EUR 982 k).
Pursuant to IAS 38, non-project-related development costs must be capitalised, if the prerequisites of IAS 38.57 are fulfilled.
The Group was involved solely in non-project-related product development in 2014 and the prerequisites of IAS 38.57 were not fulfilled. The development costs incurred for the projects of EUR 7,694 k (prior year:EUR 6,780 k) were recognised as an expense in the reporting period.
Other operating income breaks down as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Income from the cross-charging of marketing and administrative costs |
122 | 136 |
| Income from pre-school subsidy, investment subsidy | 28 | 24 |
| Income from sub-lets, including incidental costs | 15 | 32 |
| Income from insurance indemnification/damages | 39 | 267 |
| Income from foreign exchange rate gains | 33 | 211 |
| Income from the reversal of provisions | 259 | 429 |
| Income from receivables written off | 7 | 0 |
| Other income | 131 | 123 |
| Total | 634 | 1,222 |
The income from exchange differences stemmed in particular from the translation of US dollars and Swiss francs.
This item contains the cost of purchased third-party software of EUR 41,947 k (prior year: EUR 38,045 k) and the cost of purchased services of EUR 6,882 k (prior year: EUR 8,856 k).
The disclosure essentially relates to salaries, voluntary social benefits, allocations to the provision for vacation, profit participations and executive board bonuses as well as welfare expenses and pension costs.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Wages and salaries | 41,503 | 40,406 |
| Social security, pension and other benefit costs | 7,626 | 7,322 |
| Total | 49,129 | 47,728 |
Pension costs mainly include employer contributions to statutory pension insurance. Statutory pension insurance in Germany is organised as a defined contribution plan. CENIT also offers its employees the option of making contributions to a pension trust fund or direct insurance by means of deferred compensation. For these defined contribution plans, the employer does not enter into any obligations. The value of future pension payments is based exclusively on the value of the contributions paid by the employer for the employees to the external welfare provider, including income from the investment of said contributions.
The Swiss LOB pension plans are designed as defined benefit plans in accordance with IAS 19. We refer to the comments in note F. 16.
An annual average (on a quarterly basis) of 665 (prior year: 674) persons were employed by the Group, plus 52 trainees (prior year: 50).
The number of employees as of the end of the reporting period came to 659 (prior year: 671). 556 of those were employed in Germany, 49 in other EU countries and 54 in other countries.
Personnel expenses comprise termination benefits totalling EUR 761 k (prior year: EUR 282 k). EUR 58 k (prior year: EUR 347 k) are reported under liabilities and EUR 703 k (prior year: EUR 2 k) under provisions as of the end of the reporting period, as they did not affect cash. In the prior year, the liabilities included severance payments of EUR 67 k from the 2012 reporting period. In 2014 the item does not include any matters from the prior year.
Amortisation and depreciation is broken down in the statement of changes in noncurrent assets presented in notes F 1 and F 2.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle costs | 1,537 | 1,572 |
| Travel expenses | 2,623 | 2,678 |
| Advertising costs | 1,193 | 1,228 |
| Telecommunication and office supplies | 680 | 728 |
| Premises expenses | 817 | 783 |
| Rent and lease expenses | 3,220 | 3,389 |
| Exchange rate losses | 144 | 236 |
| Other personnel expenses | 173 | 646 |
| Legal and consulting fees | 1,421 | 1,297 |
| Commission | 326 | 185 |
| Training | 310 | 584 |
| Insurance | 355 | 374 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 887 | 730 |
| Payment of the supervisory board | 72 | 72 |
| Impairment losses and bad debts | 52 | 28 |
| Other | 598 | 350 |
| Total | 14,408 | 14,880 |
The total interest income and total interest expenses for financial assets and financial liabilities measured both at amortised cost and at fair value through profit or loss break down as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Interest income from bank balances | 157 | 97 |
| Interest income from other financial assets | 0 | 0 |
| Interest income from business taxes | 0 | 1 |
| Total interest income | 157 | 98 |
| Utilisation of credit lines and guarantees | 15 | 12 |
| Interest expenses for business taxes | 13 | 8 |
| Interest expenses from unwinding of the discount on accrued liabilities |
43 | 17 |
| Net interest from the measurement of pension obligations |
9 | 12 |
| Total interest expenses | 80 | 49 |
| Interest result | 77 | 49 |
There were no gains or losses from securities measured at fair value in the reporting period (prior year: EUR 0 k).
Income taxes contain German corporate income tax including solidarity surcharge and trade tax. Comparable taxes of foreign subsidiaries are also shown in this item.
Expenses from income taxes break down as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Current tax expense | 3,527 | 2,689 |
| Change in deferred taxes | -480 | -188 |
| Total | 3,047 | 2,501 |
The current tax expense includes income of EUR 23 k relating to other periods (prior year: expenses of EUR 236 k).
Deferred taxes are calculated using the individual company tax rate. These are as follows:
| in % | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| CENIT | 30.00 | 30.00 |
| CENIT CH | 22.00 | 22.00 |
| CENIT NA | 37.00 | 34.00 |
| CENIT RO | 16.00 | 16.00 |
| CENIT F | 33.00 | 33.00 |
| SPI NUMÉRIQUE | 33.00 | 33.00 |
| CENIT J | 39.43 | 39.43 |
We refer to note F 4 with respect to the change in deferred taxes. The expected tax burden on the taxable profit is 30% as of the end of the reporting period (prior year: 30%) and is calculated as follows:
| in % | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Trade tax at a rate of 404.9% (prior year: 404.9%) | 14.17 | 14.17 |
| Corporate income tax | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Solidarity surcharge (5.5% of corporate income tax) | 0.83 | 0.83 |
| Effective tax rate | 30.00 | 30.00 |
The difference between the current tax expense and the theoretical tax expense that would result from a tax rate of 30% (prior year: 30%) for CENIT AG breaks down as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Net profit or loss for the period before taxes (EBT) | 9,405 | 8,380 |
| Theoretical tax expense based on a tax rate of 30% (prior year: 30%) |
-2,822 | -2,514 |
| Non-deductible expenses | -138 | -89 |
| Tax-free income | 73 | 210 |
| Recognition of deferred tax assets | 0 | 7 |
| Effects of different tax rates within the Group and tax rate changes |
-192 | -110 |
| Non-deductible/creditable taxes | 0 | 5 |
| Other | 32 | -10 |
| Income tax expense according to the consolidated income statement |
-3,047 | -2,501 |
| Tax rate | 32.4% | 29.8% |
Earnings per share are calculated in accordance with the rules in IAS 33 Earnings per Share by dividing the group earnings by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the reporting period. Basic earnings per share do not take into account any options, and are calculated by dividing the net earnings attributable to shares after non-controlling interests by the average number of shares. Earnings per share are diluted if, in addition to ordinary shares, equity instruments are issued from capital stock that could lead to a future increase in the number of shares. Options or warrants are taken into account only if the average share price for the ordinary shares during the reporting period exceeds the strike price of the options or warrants. This effect is calculated and stated accordingly.
The following reflects the underlying amounts used to calculate the basic and diluted earnings per share:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Net profit/loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the parent |
6,358 | 5,879 |
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate basic earnings per share |
8,367,758 | 8,367,758 |
No treasury shares were held as of the end of the reporting period.
There have been no transactions involving ordinary shares or potential ordinary shares between the end of the reporting period and the date of preparing the consolidated financial statements. Based on IAS 33.49, basic and diluted earnings per share total EUR 0.76 (prior year: EUR 0.70).
Declared and paid dividends on ordinary shares during the reporting period:
| in EUR k | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Final dividend for 2013: EUR 0.35 (2012: EUR 0.55) | 2,929 | 4,602 |
On 13 May 2015, the executive board and supervisory board will propose to the shareholder meeting that a dividend of EUR 0.40 per share be distributed from the retained earnings. In addition, the executive board and supervisory board will propose to the shareholder meeting that a base dividend of EUR 0.50 per share be distributed this year and in each of the coming two years subject to the proviso that the Group's results of operations and status of liquidity do not change materially (not expected at present). The proposed dividend for 2014 is thus EUR 0.90 per share.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Final dividend for 2014: EUR 0.90 (prior year: EUR 0.35) | 7,531 | 2,929 |
The payment of dividends by CENIT AG to the shareholders does not have any income tax implications for CENIT AG.
Intangible assets developed as follows in 2014:
| in EUR k | Software and licenses |
Customer base |
Order backlog |
Payments on account |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | |||||
| As of 1 January 2014 | 2,769 | 6,224 | 0 | 234 | 9,227 |
| Exchange difference | 6 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Additions from business acquisition |
709 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 748 |
| Additions | 721 | 0 | 0 | 240 | 961 |
| Reclassifications | 289 | 0 | 0 | -289 | 0 |
| Disposals | 62 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 101 |
| As of 31 December 2014 | 4,432 | 6,262 | 0 | 185 | 10,879 |
| Accumulated amortisation | |||||
| As of 1 January 2014 | 1,993 | 3,615 | 0 | 0 | 5,608 |
| Exchange difference | 3 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Additions | 595 | 801 | 39 | 0 | 1,435 |
| Disposals | 62 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 101 |
| As of 31 December 2014 | 2,529 | 4,440 | 0 | 0 | 6,969 |
| Net carrying amounts | 1,903 | 1,822 | 0 | 185 | 3,910 |
| Cost | |||||
| As of 1 January 2013 | 2,244 | 6,254 | 0 | 0 | 8,498 |
| Exchange difference | -2 | -30 | 0 | 0 | -32 |
| Additions | 563 | 0 | 0 | 234 | 797 |
| Disposals | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| As of 31 December 2013 | 2,769 | 6,224 | 0 | 234 | 9,227 |
| Accumulated amortisation | |||||
| As of 1 January 2013 | 1,593 | 2,828 | 0 | 0 | 4,420 |
| Exchange difference | -1 | -9 | 0 | 0 | -10 |
| Additions | 437 | 796 | 0 | 0 | 1,233 |
| Disposals | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| As of 31 December 2013 | 1,993 | 3,615 | 0 | 0 | 5,608 |
| Net carrying amounts | 776 | 2,609 | 0 | 234 | 3,619 |
Amortisation was reported in the income statement under amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment.
The customer base from purchase accounting of cad scheffler GmbH had amortised as of the end of the reporting period.
The customer base from purchase accounting of conunit GmbH has a remaining amortisation period of 5.5 years as of the end of the reporting period. The residual carrying amount as of the end of the reporting period totals EUR 1,298 k. In addition, software acquired as part of the business combination was capitalised which has a residual carrying amount of EUR 117 k as of the end of the reporting period. The remaining amortisation period also amounts to 5.5 years.
The customer base from purchase accounting of Transcat PLM AG has a remaining amortisation period of one year and five months as of the end of the reporting period. As of the end of the reporting period, this customer base has a residual carrying amount of EUR 524 k.
As part of the acquisition of SPI Numérique SARL, software was identified and recognised at an amount of EUR 708 k. The software has an amortisation period of ten years. As of the end of the reporting period, this software has a residual carrying amount of EUR 649 k. The remaining amortisation period as of the end of the reporting period is nine years and three months. The order backlog identified from the acquisition of EUR 38 k has amortised as of the end of the reporting period.
There were no indications of impairment in the current 2014 reporting period.
Property, plant and equipment developed as follows in 2014:
| in EUR k | Buildings including buildings on third-party land |
Plant and machinery |
Furniture and fixtures |
Payments on account |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | |||||
| As of 1 January 2014 | 1,809 | 6,247 | 940 | 27 | 9,023 |
| Exchange difference | 5 | 34 | 13 | 0 | 52 |
| Additions from business acquisition |
0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| Additions | 1 | 647 | 128 | 1 | 777 |
| Reclassification | 28 | 0 | -28 | 0 | |
| Disposals | 0 | 279 | 55 | 0 | 334 |
| As of 31 December 2014 |
1,815 | 6,677 | 1,058 | 0 | 9,550 |
| Accumulated depreciation | |||||
| As of 1 January 2014 | 1,006 | 4,728 | 722 | 0 | 6,456 |
| Exchange difference | 2 | 22 | 10 | 0 | 34 |
| Additions | 60 | 678 | 161 | 0 | 899 |
| Disposals | 0 | 276 | 51 | 0 | 327 |
| As of 31 December 2014 |
1,068 | 5,152 | 842 | 0 | 7,062 |
| Net carrying amounts | 747 | 1,525 | 216 | 0 | 2,488 |
| Cost | |||||
| As of 1 January 2013 | 1,831 | 6,157 | 929 | 0 | 8,918 |
| Exchange difference | -5 | -12 | -5 | -1 | -23 |
| Additions | 9 | 324 | 159 | 28 | 520 |
| Reclassification | 0 | 9 | 0 | -9 | 0 |
| Disposals | 27 | 222 | 143 | 0 | 392 |
| As of 31 December 2013 |
1,809 | 6,247 | 940 | 27 | 9,023 |
| Accumulated depreciation | |||||
| As of 1 January 2013 | 972 | 4,096 | 683 | 0 | 5,751 |
| Exchange difference | -1 | -7 | -4 | 0 | -12 |
| Additions | 62 | 846 | 186 | 0 | 1,094 |
| Disposals | 27 | 207 | 143 | 0 | 377 |
| As of 31 December 2013 |
1,006 | 4,728 | 722 | 0 | 6,456 |
| Net carrying amounts | 803 | 1,519 | 218 | 27 | 2,567 |
CENIT AG holds a share of 33.3% in CenProCS AIRliance GmbH, an entity domiciled in Stuttgart. This entity specialises in providing packaged services in the field of IT, as well as coordinating and marketing said services.
The share of the assets, liabilities, revenue and earnings of the joint venture that is included in the consolidated financial statements as of 31 December 2014 breaks down as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Current assets | ||
| (thereof cash: EUR 99 k (prior year: EUR 65 k)) | 2,318 | 2,324 |
| Non-current assets | 0 | 0 |
| Current liabilities | -2,267 | -2,273 |
| Non-current liabilities | 0 | 0 |
| Net assets | 51 | 51 |
| Revenue | 6,835 | 7,540 |
| Total comprehensive income | 0 | 0 |
| Carrying amount of the investment | 54 | 54 |
As of 31 December 2014, CenProCS AIRliance reported a profit of EUR 0 k (prior year: EUR 0 k).
The recognition and measurement differences determined between the profit in the tax accounts and the financial statements under German commercial law as well as the adjustments of the financial statements under German commercial law of the consolidated entities to IFRS led to deferred taxes of the following amounts in the following items:
| in EUR k | Deferred tax assets | Deferred tax liabilities | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec. 2014 |
31 Dec. 2013 |
31 Dec. 2014 |
31 Dec. 2013 |
|
| Deferred tax assets on unused tax losses |
124 | 75 | 0 | 0 |
| Property, plant and equipment |
0 | 0 | 45 | 33 |
| Intangible assets | 0 | 0 | 539 | 754 |
| General valuation allowance | 0 | 0 | 75 | 49 |
| Receivables from service agreements |
0 | 0 | 362 | 300 |
| Other provisions and accrued liabilities |
193 | 173 | 0 | 0 |
| IAS 19 pension obligations | 268 | 126 | 0 | 0 |
| Consolidation procedures | 31 | 15 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 616 | 389 | 1,021 | 1,142 |
| Netting | -368 | -300 | -368 | -300 |
| Total | 248 | 89 | 653 | 842 |
The change in deferred taxes on actuarial gains/losses from defined benefit obligations recognised in other comprehensive income of EUR 129 k (prior year: EUR -48 k) was recognised in other comprehensive income. The other changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities had an effect on income in the reporting year and in the prior year.
As of 31 December 2014, no deferred income tax payables for taxes on untransferred profits were recognised (outside basis differences). As of the end of the reporting period, the latter amount to EUR 63 k (prior year: EUR 62 k).
As of the end of the reporting period, the Group had unused tax losses of EUR 319 k (prior year: EUR 191 k) for which deferred tax assets of EUR 124 k (prior year: EUR 75 k) were recognised. These relate to CENIT Japan. If business volume expands profitably, it is assumed that this deferred tax asset can be realised in future periods.
| in EUR k | 31 December 2014 | 31 December 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise (measured at cost) | 5 | 0 |
| Payments on account made | 2 | 4 |
| Total | 7 | 4 |
No write-downs to the net realisable value were recorded in the 2014 reporting period (prior year: EUR 73 k).
Trade receivables totalling EUR 17,377 k (prior year: EUR 14,811 k) are due from third parties, as well as EUR 3,265 k (prior year: EUR 3,455 k) from joint ventures.
Receivables include receivables from construction contracts (PoC) totalling EUR 2,975 k (prior year: EUR 2,551 k). Contract costs of EUR 1,794 k (prior year: EUR 1,569 k) were incurred on these receivables. This results in a profit from construction contracts of EUR 1,181 k (prior year: EUR 982 k). Payments on account received for receivables from construction contracts amounted to EUR 3,664 k (prior year: EUR 3,950 k). Because these are payments on account and not progress billings based on the stage of completion, they are reported as other liabilities in the statement of financial position.
Customers are usually granted a payment term of up to 30 days. No interest was charged. Specific valuation allowances not tied to any periods were recognised for specific default risks (settlement, insolvency). As of the end of the reporting period, specific valuation allowances were recognised for EUR 26 k of trade receivables (prior year: EUR 6 k).
The age structure of trade receivables and receivables from joint ventures was as follows at the end of the reporting period:
| in EUR k | Total | thereof: impaired |
thereof: neither past due nor impaired at the end of the reporting period |
thereof: past due but not impaired |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| less than 30 days |
between 30 and 60 days |
between 61 and 90 days |
between 91 and 180 days |
||||
| 2014 | 20,668 | 26 | 15,943 | 4,209 | 296 | 140 | 53 |
| 2013 | 18,272 | 6 | 14,000 | 3,158 | 675 | 176 | 257 |
The ten largest accounts receivable account for a receivables balance of EUR 6,317 k as of the end of the reporting period. This represents a share of 36.3%. The credit quality of the receivables as of the end of the reporting period which were neither past due nor impaired is seen as appropriate. There are no indications of impairment. The credit ratings of the debtors are monitored on an ongoing basis.
As of the end of the reporting period, EUR 26 k of trade receivables was impaired (prior year: EUR 6 k). The allowance account developed as follows:
| in EUR k | Individually determined to be impaired |
|---|---|
| As of 1 January 2013 | 2 |
| Addition (+)/reversal (-) | 4 |
| As of 31 December 2013 | 6 |
| Addition (+)/reversal (-) | 20 |
| As of 31 December 2014 | 26 |
When testing trade receivables for impairment, any change in the credit rating that has occurred by the end of the reporting period since the payment term was granted is taken into account. There is no notable concentration of credit risk, as the customer base is diverse and there is no overlapping.
There are no trade receivables due in more than one year that are reported under non-current assets.
A breakdown of receivables by country is as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 15,483 | 14,906 |
| Rest of Europe | 3,174 | 1,345 |
| Rest of the world incl. USA | 1,985 | 2,015 |
| Total | 20,642 | 18,266 |
Other receivables break down as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Receivables from staff | 0 | 1 |
| Receivables from deposits | 58 | 52 |
| Receivables from damages | 50 | 50 |
| Repayment receivable | 21 | 20 |
| Other | 52 | 15 |
| Total | 181 | 138 |
Other receivables are short term, not past due and not impaired.
Non-current assets include receivables from damages of EUR 84 k (prior year: EUR 157 k) with a maturity of more than one year.
There are no financial assets at fair value through profit or loss as of the end of the reporting period (prior year: EUR 2,000 k).
The long-term income tax receivables relate to the capitalised corporate income tax credit. This is recognised at its present value. The present value was determined using a discount rate of 4.0%.
The short-term current income tax receivables of EUR 978 k in total (prior year: EUR 745 k) mainly relate to claims for prepayments for corporate income tax, trade tax of EUR 870 k in total (prior year: EUR 648 k) and income tax assets from double tax treaties amounting to EUR 14 k (prior year: EUR 3 k) as well as the short-term portion of capitalised corporate income tax credits of EUR 94 k (prior year: EUR 94 k).
Cash and cash equivalents break down as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank balances | 33,242 | 26,623 |
| Cash on hand | 8 | 9 |
| Total | 33,250 | 26,632 |
Bank balances earn interest at the floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates. The fair value of cash amounts to EUR 33,250 k (prior year: EUR 26,632 k).
The Group has credit lines of EUR 3,197 k as of the end of the reporting period (prior year: EUR 2,800 k). Of this amount, there is a figure of EUR 2,800 k that can be availed of either as a loan or as a guarantee. The Group utilised EUR 961 k of this amount as a guarantee as of the end of the reporting period. There is also a further guarantee of EUR 358 k which was not, however, utilised as of the end of the reporting period.
Cash is a component of cash and cash equivalents pursuant to IAS 7. The composition of cash and cash equivalents is presented in note G.
Prepaid expenses break down as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid maintenance fees | 3,869 | 4,735 |
| Prepaid rights of use and car insurance | 1,006 | 1,103 |
| Total | 4,875 | 5,838 |
The prepaid maintenance fees involve prepayments by the CENIT Group for the 2015 period that will be recorded as expenses in the following year.
Since the resolution adopted on 13 June 2006 to increase capital from company funds and entry in the commercial register on 14 August 2006, the capital stock of the Company amounts to EUR 8,367,758.00 and is fully paid in. It is divided into 8,367,758 no-par value shares of EUR 1.00 each (prior year: 8,367,758 no-par value shares of EUR 1.00 each). The shares are bearer shares and are no-par value common shares only.
The Company still holds no treasury shares.
The executive board is authorised, with the approval of the supervisory board, to increase the capital stock by up to EUR 4,183,879.00 in total by 25 May 2016 by issuing on one or more occasions new no-par value bearer shares in return for cash contributions or contributions in kind (authorised capital 2011). The number of shares must increase in direct proportion to the increase in capital stock. The shareholders must be given a subscription right. The new shares can also be assumed by one bank or by several banks with the obligation to offer them to the Company's shareholders for purchase.
However, the executive board is authorised, with the approval of the supervisory board, to preclude the shareholders' statutory subscription right in the following cases:
The total number of shares issued based on this authorisation in return for cash contributions and contributions in kind with exclusion of the subscription right cannot exceed a proportionate amount of capital stock of EUR 1,673,551 (20% of current capital stock). The executive board is authorised, subject to approval of the supervisory board, to decide on further details of the capital increase and the conditions of the share issue.
The supervisory board is authorised to adjust the version of Article 5 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws after partial or full implementation of the increase in capital stock in accordance with the respective utilisation of the authorised capital.
The capital reserves contain the share premium realised from issuing shares of the parent company in excess of their nominal value. If the legal reserve and the capital reserves pursuant to Sec. 272 (2) Nos. 1 to 3 HGB together do not exceed a tenth of the capital stock or any higher amount stipulated in the articles of incorporation and bylaws, they may only be used in accordance with Sec. 150 AktG to offset a net loss for the year or a loss carryforward that is not covered by net income for the year or a profit carryforward respectively, and cannot be offset by releasing other revenue reserves. The capital reserves were last increased in the 2007 reporting period by EUR 195 k by pro rata posting of the stock options granted under the stock option plan 2002/2006.
Other revenue reserves and the legal reserve pursuant to Sec. 150 AktG contain the profits transferred to reserves.
The unrealised gains/losses from defined benefit obligations included in other revenue reserves developed as follows in the 2014 reporting period:
| in EUR k | |
|---|---|
| As of 1 January 2014 | 333 |
| Addition/disposal | 588 |
| Deferred taxes | -129 |
| As of 31 December 2014 | 792 |
The currency translation reserve contains the net differences resulting from translation of the subsidiaries' financial statements to the Group's functional currency that are offset against equity.
As of the end of the reporting period, there are no non-controlling interests in equity.
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Current income tax liabilities | 537 | 621 |
| Other provisions | 820 | 113 |
| Total | 1,357 | 734 |
Other provisions include the expenses for the shareholder meeting of EUR 80 k (prior year: EUR 75 k), payment obligations from the return of leased vehicles amounting to EUR 37 k (prior year: EUR 36 k) and provisions from personnel-related measures of EUR 703 k (prior year: EUR 2 k). The provisions are measured based on a best estimate of the settlement amount needed. There are estimation uncertainties surrounding the amount of the cash outflow.
The current income tax liabilities developed as follows:
| in EUR k | |
|---|---|
| As of 1 January 2014 | 621 |
| Utilisation | 394 |
| Reversal | 23 |
| Addition | 333 |
| As of 31 December 2014 | 537 |
The other provisions cover all identifiable obligations to third parties in accordance with IAS 37. They developed as follows:
| in EUR k | Shareholder meeting |
Return of vehicles |
Personnel related measures |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of 1 January 2014 | 75 | 57 | 2 | 134 |
| Utilisation | 73 | 37 | 2 | 112 |
| Reversal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Addition | 80 | 36 | 703 | 819 |
| As of 31 December 2014 |
80 | 56 | 703 | 839 |
| of which long-term | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| of which short-term | 80 | 37 | 703 | 820 |
The provisions will mainly be used in the following reporting period. Due to the volume involved, long-term provisions are reported under other liabilities.
The liabilities are subject to customary retentions of title to the delivered goods.
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Trade payables to third parties | 4,168 | 4,028 |
| Liabilities to joint ventures | 51 | 37 |
| Total | 4,219 | 4,065 |
Of the total liabilities, EUR 4,219 k is due within one year (prior year: EUR 4,065 k). These are not subject to interest.
Other current liabilities break down as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| VAT/wage tax payables | 1,948 | 1,591 |
| Liabilities for social security | 115 | 81 |
| Employer's liability insurance, compensatory levy in lieu of employing severely disabled persons |
212 | 222 |
| Vacation and bonus entitlements | 3,844 | 2,890 |
| Long-service awards | 62 | 54 |
| Personnel adjustment measures | 58 | 447 |
| Supervisory board compensation | 68 | 68 |
| Outstanding purchase invoices | 957 | 1,003 |
| Payments on account received | 3,664 | 3,950 |
| Stock appreciation rights | 0 | 40 |
| Purchase price liability | 398 | 0 |
| Other | 1,245 | 1,084 |
| Total | 12,571 | 11,430 |
In the past reporting period, the remaining 10,000 virtual stock options were exercised at a price of EUR 11.50. This led to a burden on earnings of EUR 20 k.
Other non-current liabilities break down as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Long-service awards | 351 | 312 |
| Pension obligations | 1,219 | 574 |
| Long-term executive board remuneration | 606 | 442 |
| Other | 60 | 89 |
| Total | 2,236 | 1,417 |
The long-service awards total EUR 413 k. Of this figure, EUR 351 k is reported in non-current and EUR 62 k in current other liabilities. There are no written commitments to the employees for the long-service awards. These were recognised as liabilities on account of the payment method and the resulting indication of company practise.
The Group offers all employees in Germany with an unterminated and permanent employment relationship the possibility to participate in an employer-funded pension scheme. CENIT voluntarily pays, with a right of revocation, a pre-defined fixed amount each month into a defined contribution pension insurance policy of an insurance firm. This resulted in expenses of EUR 203 k for CENIT in the reporting period (prior year: EUR 171 k).
In addition, for all employees in Germany there is a defined contribution plan as part of German statutory pension insurance. The employer has to pay an applicable contributory rate of currently 9.45% (employer contribution) of the remuneration subject to pension contributions.
The LOB old-age pension in Switzerland is designed as a defined benefit plan pursuant to IAS 19 and thus presented in the statement of financial position. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in other comprehensive income according to the method chosen.
The following tables summarise the components of net benefit expense recognised in the income statement and amounts recognised in the statement of financial position for the respective plans.
The total obligation recognised in the statement of financial position from the defined benefit plans is as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Present value of the defined benefit obligation | 5,187 | 4,463 |
| Fair value of plan assets | 3,968 | 3,889 |
| Benefit liability | 1,219 | 574 |
The net liability developed as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Net liability as of 1 January | 574 | 725 |
| Net expense recognised | 210 | 235 |
| Contributions by the employer | -166 | -156 |
| Actuarial losses/gains | 588 | -217 |
| Net foreign exchange difference | 13 | -13 |
| Net liability as of 31 December | 1,219 | 574 |
Changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligation are as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Present value of defined benefit obligation as of 1 January | 4,463 | 4,104 |
| Current service cost | 200 | 222 |
| Interest expense | 92 | 82 |
| Contributions by plan participants | 161 | 152 |
| Actuarial gains/losses | 143 | -10 |
| Benefits paid/reimbursed | 30 | -20 |
| Net foreign exchange difference | 98 | -67 |
| Present value of defined benefit obligation as of 31 December |
5,187 | 4,463 |
The changes in fair value of the plan assets are as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Fair value of plan assets as of 1 January | 3,889 | 3,379 |
| Expected return on plan assets | 82 | 69 |
| Actuarial gains/losses | -445 | 207 |
| Contributions by the employer | 166 | 156 |
| Contributions by plan participants | 161 | 152 |
| Benefits paid | 30 | -20 |
| Net foreign exchange difference | 85 | -54 |
| Fair value of plan assets as of 31 December | 3,968 | 3,889 |
All of the plan assets come from other investments. The total return expected on plan assets is calculated on the basis of past experience. This is reflected in the principal assumptions (see below). The actual return on plan assets came to EUR -363 k in total (prior year: EUR 277 k).
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Current service cost | 200 | 222 |
| Interest expense | 92 | 82 |
| Expected return on plan assets | -82 | -69 |
| Net benefit expense | 210 | 235 |
The Group expects to contribute EUR 170 k in total to its defined benefit pension plans in the 2015 reporting period.
Actuarial gains and losses recognised in other comprehensive income are as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative amount recognised in revenue reserves as of 1 January |
427 | 644 |
| Amount recognised in the current year | 588 | -217 |
| Cumulative amount recognised in revenue reserves as of 31 December |
1,015 | 427 |
The principal assumptions used in determining the pension obligation are shown below:
| % | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Discount rate | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| Expected return on plan assets | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| Anticipated rate of salary increase | 1.0 | 1.0 |
The amounts for the current and prior reporting period are as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present value of the defined benefit obligation |
5,187 | 4,463 | 4,104 | 2,283 |
| Plan assets | 3,968 | 3,889 | 3,379 | 2,075 |
| Deficit/surplus | -1,219 | -574 | -725 | -208 |
| Experience adjustments on plan liabilities |
-107 | -148 | 93 | -10 |
| Experience adjustments on plan assets | -445 | 207 | -99 | -138 |
The authoritative actuarial assumptions used to calculate the defined benefit obligation are the discount rate and the rate of salary increase. The sensitivity analyses presented below were carried out on the basis of the changes in the respective assumptions as of the end of the reporting period that are reasonably possible, with the other assumptions remaining unchanged in each case.
If the discount rate were to go up by 0.5% or down by 0.5%, the obligation would decrease by 4.8% and increase by 5.4% respectively.
If the rate of salary increase were to rise by 0.5% or drop by 0.5%, the obligation would increase by 0.5% or fall by 0.5% respectively.
The aim of the disclosures required in accordance with IFRS 7 is to provide information relevant for decision making on the amount, timing and probability of occurrence of future cash flows that result from financial instruments, and to assess the risks resulting from financial instruments.
A financial instrument is any contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity instrument of another entity. Apart from cash, financial assets primarily involve non-securitised receivables, such as trade receivables, loans and loan receivables, and securitised receivables, such as cheques, bills of exchange or debenture bonds. Financial assets can also include held-tomaturity investments and derivatives held for trading. Financial liabilities on the other hand generally give rise to a contractual obligation to return cash or other financial assets. These include in particular trade payables, liabilities to banks, bonds, liabilities on bills accepted and drawn as well as written options and derivative financial instruments with a negative fair value.
The Group's principal financial instruments, other than derivatives, comprise overdrafts and trade payables. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to finance the Group's business activities. The Group has various financial assets such as trade receivables, securities, cash and short-term deposits which arise directly from its business activities.
There are no significant differences between the carrying amount and fair value of receivables and liabilities due to their short term.
The Group is exposed to credit and liquidity risks as well as interest and exchange rate fluctuations in the course of its operations.
The general regulations for a group-wide risk policy are contained in the group guidelines. The group-wide risk policy also provides for the use of derivative financial instruments. The corresponding financial transactions are only concluded with counterparties with excellent credit ratings.
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. Market prices comprise three types of risk: currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risks, such as the equity price risk. The Group does not envisage any material market price risk. For the other market risks listed above, we refer to the following comments.
The credit risk results from the possibility that business partners may fail to meet their obligation under financial instruments and that financial losses could be incurred as a result.
The Group obtains credit ratings from external agencies before accepting a new customer in order to assess the creditworthiness of prospective customers and define their credit limits.
Credit ratings for major new customers are made by Creditreform e.V. For new and existing customers, the credit risk is reduced among other things by issuing invoices for downpayments. The payment behaviour of existing customers is analysed on a constant basis. In addition, the credit risk is controlled using limits for each contractual party, which are examined annually.
No credit rating is carried out for contracts won by our contractual partners, since this is already done at contractual partner level.
In addition, receivable balances are monitored by us on an ongoing basis, with the result that the Group's exposure to risk of default is not significant.
As we do not conclude any general netting agreements with our customers, the sum of the amounts reported under assets also represents the maximum credit risk. There are no identifiable concentrations of credit risk from business relationships with single debtors or groups of debtors. With respect to the other financial assets of the Group, such as cash and cash equivalents, the Group's maximum exposure to credit risk arising from default of the counterparty is equal to the carrying amount of these instruments.
In addition to customary retention of title, the Group does not have any collateral or other credit enhancement measures that would reduce this default risk.
The currency risk exposure mainly arises where receivables or liabilities exist or will be generated in the ordinary course of business in a currency other than the local currency of the Company.
Foreign currency receivables and liabilities which could give rise to currency risks are not material for the Group.
In addition, there are currency risks from domestic bank balances denominated in USD. The resulting risks amount to EUR 1 k (prior year: EUR 2 k) with a total volume of USD 10 k (prior year: USD 19 k) and a change of +/- 10%. The risk from cash on hand is considered immaterial on the whole. The currency risk from other bank balances mainly involves figures of CHF 277 k (prior year: CHF 3,929 k) and USD 4,986 k (prior year: USD 3,195 k) and amounts to EUR 434 k (prior year: EUR 551 k) with a change of +/- 10%.
There are no other risks from foreign currencies.
The Group is generally not exposed to any risk from changes in market interest rates because it has not borrowed any non-current financial liabilities with floating interest rates. The Group only sees an interest rate risk from investing cash and cash equivalents. This risk is not deemed material. With average cash and cash equivalents of EUR 32,405 k, this would result in an effect on profit of EUR +/- 324 k if the interest rate were to fluctuate by +/- 1%.
The CENIT Group's policy is to manage its interest income using a mix of fixed and floating-rate investments. The Group uses financial instruments where necessary to achieve this goal.
As of the end of both reporting periods, there were no derivative financial instruments for hedging against interest risks.
The Group needs sufficient liquidity to meet its financial obligations. Liquidity risks arise from the possibility that customers may not be able to settle obligations to the Group under normal trading conditions. The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate reserves, credit lines from banks and by constantly monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and reconciling the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities. The credit rating of the Group allows sufficient cash to be procured. Moreover, the Group has lines of credit that have not yet been used.
Thanks to the large amount of cash and cash equivalents and highly liquid securities, there are currently no liquidity or refinancing risks at group level.
The financial liabilities all fall due within a maximum of one year.
The primary objective of the Group's capital management is to ensure that it maintains a strong credit rating and a maximum equity ratio in order to support its business and maximise shareholder value.
The Group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions. To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group can adjust the dividend payment to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or issue new shares. No changes were made to the objectives, policies and methods as of 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013.
The Group monitors its capital in relation to total assets. Equity includes the equity attributable to shareholders of the parent. Total assets comprise the total assets reported in the consolidated statement of financial position (in accordance with IFRS).
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | 66,885 | 60,359 |
| Equity attributable to shareholders of the parent company |
39,352 | 35,930 |
| Equity as a percentage of total assets (%) | 58.8 | 59.5 |
The table below shows the carrying amounts and fair values of all of the Group's financial instruments included in the consolidated financial statements.
| in EUR k | Carrying amount |
Carrying amount |
Fair value |
Fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |
| Financial assets | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
33,250 | 26,632 | 33,250 | 26,632 |
| Other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
0 | 2,000 | 0 | 2,000 |
| Loans and receivables | 20,823 | 18,561 | 20,823 | 18,561 |
| thereof: | ||||
| Trade receivables |
17,377 | 14,811 | 17,377 | 14,811 |
| Receivables from a joint venture |
3,265 | 3,455 | 3,265 | 3,455 |
| Other receivables |
181 | 138 | 181 | 138 |
| 54,073 | 47,193 | 54,073 | 47,193 | |
| Financial liabilities | ||||
| Other financial liabilities | 4,219 | 4,065 | 4,219 | 4,065 |
| thereof: | ||||
| Trade payables |
4,168 | 4,028 | 4,168 | 4,028 |
| Liabilities to a joint venture |
51 | 37 | 51 | 37 |
| 4,219 | 4,065 | 4,219 | 4,065 |
The fair value of the financial assets and financial liabilities corresponds to their carrying amount at amortised cost because they are current assets and liabilities only. The fair value of financial assets measured at fair value results from the observable prices on the market.
The statement of cash flows shows how the cash and cash equivalents of the CENIT Group changed during the course of the reporting period and the prior year as a result of cash inflows and outflows. Cash flows were broken down into cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities in accordance with IAS 7. The amounts reported from foreign entities are generally translated at the annual average rates. However, as in the statement of financial position, liquidity is reported at the closing rate. The foreign currency effects on cash are shown separately if they are material.
The cash flow from investing activities and financing activities is determined on the basis of payments made or received. The cash flow from operating activities, on the other hand, is derived indirectly from the Group's net income or loss for the year. When performing the indirect calculation, changes in items in the statement of financial position considered in connection with ordinary activities are adjusted for effects from currency translation and changes in the basis of consolidation. There are therefore differences compared to changes in the relevant items in the consolidated statement of financial position.
Investments in property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and financial assets are included in the cash outflow from investing activities.
Only assets that can be converted into cash without significant deductions and that are subject to minor fluctuations in value are included in cash and cash equivalents.
Cash and cash equivalents include all cash and cash equivalents reported in the statement of financial position provided they have an original maturity of less than three months. As of the end of the reporting period, cash and cash equivalents break down as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank balances | 33,242 | 26,623 |
| Cash on hand | 8 | 9 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 33,250 | 26,632 |
Pursuant to IFRS 8, business segments must be demarcated based on the internal reporting from group divisions that are regularly reviewed by the entity's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance.
For management purposes, the Group is organised into business units based on its products and services, and has two reportable operating segments as follows:
The presentation is based on internal reporting.
The PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) segment focuses on industrial customers and the corresponding technologies. Its industry focus is on the automotive, aerospace, mechanical engineering and shipbuilding industries. Special emphasis is placed on products and services in product lifecycle management, such as CATIA from Dassault or SAP, and internally developed software such as cenitCONNECT and FASTSUITE. The Enterprise Information Management (EIM) segment focuses on the customer segment of trade and commerce, banks, insurance firms and utilities. The focus here is on products of the strategic software partner IBM and internally developed software and consultancy services in the fields of document management and business intelligence.
In the segmentation by business unit and by region, those financial assets and tax reimbursement rights as well as current and deferred income tax liabilities and other liabilities are disclosed in the "Not allocated" column for segment assets and segment liabilities respectively that could not be attributed to the respective business units.
The segmentation by region is based on the location of the Group's assets. Sales to external customers disclosed in geographical segments are based on the geographical location of the customer of the individual segment.
In the 2014 reporting period, 11% of sales was recorded with a single customer (prior year: 12%). These sales are attributable first and foremost to the PLM segment.
| in EUR k | EIM | PLM | Reconcil iation |
Group | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External revenue | 2014 | 25,822 | 97,572 | 0 | 123,394 |
| 2013 | 28,135 | 90,786 | 0 | 118,921 | |
| EBIT | 2014 | 956 | 8,372 | 0 | 9,328 |
| 2013 | 1,014 | 7,318 | 0 | 8,331 | |
| Share of profit of the joint | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| venture | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other interest result and financial | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 77 |
| result | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 49 |
| Income taxes | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 3,047 | 3,047 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 2,501 | 2,501 | |
| Group earnings | 2014 | 956 | 8,373 | -2,971 | 6,358 |
| 2013 | 1,014 | 7,318 | -2,452 | 5,879 | |
| Segment assets | 2014 | 8,520 | 23,650 | 34,662 | 66,832 |
| 2013 | 10,258 | 20,314 | 29,733 | 60,305 | |
| Investment in a joint venture | 2014 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 54 |
| 2013 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 54 | |
| Segment liabilities | 2014 | 7,039 | 19,303 | 1,191 | 27,533 |
| 2013 | 6,848 | 16,117 | 1,464 | 24,429 | |
| Investments in property, plant | 2014 | 313 | 2,206 | 0 | 2,519 |
| and equipment and intangible assets |
2013 | 331 | 895 | 0 | 1,226 |
| Amortisation and depreciation | 2014 | 618 | 1,716 | 0 | 2,334 |
| 2013 | 706 | 1,598 | 0 | 2,303 | |
EIM = Enterprise Information Management; PLM = Product Lifecycle Management
The segmentation by region is shown below:
| for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in EUR k | Germany | Switzer land |
America North |
Romania | France | Japan | Reconcil iation |
Consoli dation |
Group | |
| External revenue |
2014 | 99,221 | 11,269 10,818 | 1,140 | 346 | 600 | 0 | 0 | 123,394 | |
| 2013 | 98,444 | 10,050 | 8,802 | 994 | 0 | 631 | 0 | 0 | 118,921 | |
| Segment assets |
2014 | 28,255 | 3,715 | 3,274 | 459 | 1,027 | 256 | 34,663 | -4,817 | 66,832 |
| 2013 | 26,898 | 2,406 | 2,995 | 204 | 28 | 252 | 29,733 | -2,211 | 60,305 | |
| Investment in a joint |
2014 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 |
| venture | 2013 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 |
| Investments in property, plant and |
2014 | 1,592 | 28 | 42 | 52 | 802 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2,519 |
| equipment and intangible assets |
2013 | 1,098 | 17 | 54 | 41 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1,226 |
The reconciliation of segment assets breaks down as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Deferred tax assets | 248 | 89 |
| Long-term income tax receivable | 169 | 250 |
| Current income tax assets | 978 | 745 |
| Other financial assets (current and non-current) | 0 | 2,000 |
| Other receivables | 18 | 17 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 33,250 | 26,632 |
| Total | 34,663 | 29,733 |
The reconciliation of segment liabilities breaks down as follows:
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Deferred tax liabilities | 653 | 842 |
| Current income tax liabilities | 537 | 621 |
| Other liabilities | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 1,191 | 1,464 |
There were no material non-cash expenses in the reporting period or in the prior year except amortisation and depreciation and additions to provisions.
As of the end of the reporting period there were no contingent liabilities that would require disclosure in the statement of financial position or in the notes.
The Company has other financial obligations in connection with rental and lease agreements. The resulting financial obligations have been taken into account in the table below:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Rental and lease obligations | ||
| Due in less than 1 year | 3,009 | 3,137 |
| Due in 1 to 5 years | 5,817 | 5,787 |
| Due in more than 5 years | 1,916 | 2,928 |
| Total | 10,742 | 11,852 |
Other financial obligations principally consist of tenancy obligations of EUR 7,982 k (prior year: EUR 9,376 k) entered into for the office buildings rented in Germany and vehicle lease agreements of EUR 1,646 k (prior year: EUR 1,605 k). The agreements include options to extend the terms and price escalation clauses as customary in the industry.
The company cars and communications equipment were also leased by means of lease agreements in order to guarantee that these are always up to date and to avoid tying up liquidity. These agreements result in cash outflows in future periods that are included in the above list.
No material income from sublease agreements is expected in future periods.
Related parties of the CENIT Group within the meaning of IAS 24 only concern the members of the executive board and supervisory board, their dependants and joint ventures.
Transactions with related parties were conducted by CENIT with one member of the supervisory board. This resulted in consulting expenses of EUR 19 k in the 2014 reporting period (prior year: EUR 44 k) due to CENIT and consulting expenses of EUR 1 k (prior year: EUR 1 k) due to a joint venture. The business was transacted at arm's length conditions. Furthermore, CENIT recorded sales with joint ventures amounting to EUR 13,042 k (prior year: EUR 14,926 k).
As of the end of the reporting period, there were liabilities to related parties of EUR 55 k (prior year: EUR 51 k). The receivables from a joint venture are recognised separately in the statement of financial position.
In the reporting period, the remuneration of the executive board members was as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Kurt Bengel | ||
| Fixed | 244 | 245 |
| Performance-based thereof relating to other periods: EUR 0 k (prior year: EUR 0 k) |
138 | 125 |
| Long-term incentive | 126 | 127 |
| Matthias Schmidt | ||
| Fixed | 214 | 194 |
| Performance-based | 112 | 101 |
| Long-term incentive | 130 | 118 |
| Christian Pusch | ||
| Fixed | 0 | 141 |
| Performance-based | 0 | 73 |
| Long-term incentive | 0 | 0 |
| Post-employment benefits | 0 | 115 |
| Total | 964 | 1,239 |
The variable remuneration component breaks down into a short-term and long-term component, with the short-term portion being paid out in the subsequent year. The long-term portion is paid out after three years provided that other criteria have been met. Total annual remuneration is capped in each case to EUR 500,000.00.
The employment contracts of Mr. Bengel and Mr. Schmidt provide for compensation payments pursuant to Sec. 74 HGB for the term of a one-year ban on competition and full remuneration paid to the surviving dependants of deceased executive board members for a six-month period.
No further pension obligations or benefits were promised in the event of termination of service. In the event that the Company terminates the agreement before its expiry without good reason, the executive board member receives a severance payment of no more than twice the annual fixed remuneration agreed in the agreement for the remainder of the employment agreement. In any case, no more than the remaining term of the employment agreement will be remunerated.
The employment contract of Mr. Bengel was extended prematurely for a further five years with effect as of 1 January 2015. The employment contract of Mr. Schmidt was likewise extended prematurely for a further four years and six months with effect as of 1 February 2015. In both contracts, the total annual remuneration cap was increased to EUR 750,000.00 in each case.
In accordance with Article 14 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws, the amounts paid to the supervisory board were as follows in 2014:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2014 | 2013 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed remuneration |
Performance related remuneration |
Fixed remuneration |
Performance related remuneration |
|
| Andreas Schmidt | 30.0 | 0 | 30.0 | 0 |
| Hubert Leypoldt | 22.5 | 0 | 22.5 | 0 |
| Andreas Karrer | 15.0 | 0 | 15.0 | 0 |
| Total amount | 67.5 | 0 | 67.5 | 0 |
The D & O insurance was continued in 2014 for executive board members, supervisory board members as well as other executives. The premiums of EUR 23 k (prior year: EUR 23 k) were borne by the Company.
The executive board held 7,670 shares as of the end of the reporting period (0.09% of capital stock). The supervisory board held 194,392 shares, i.e. 2.32% of the Company's capital stock.
On 16 January 2014, the Company received notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG ["Wertpapierhandelsgesetz": German Securities Trading Act] from PRODYNA AG:
PRODYNA AG, Eschborn, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, fell below the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 16 January 2014 and amounted to 4.18% on that date (corresponding to 350,000 voting rights).
In a letter dated 17 January 2014, PRODYNA AG announced that its share of voting rights in CENIT fell below the threshold of 3%:
PRODYNA AG, Eschborn, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, fell below the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 1.61% on that date (corresponding to 135,000 voting rights).
In a letter dated 17 January 2014, the Invesco Group announced that its share of voting rights in CENIT exceeded the threshold of 3%:
Invesco Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco Limited pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco Holding Company Limited, London, United Kingdom, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco Holding Company Limited pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
IVZ Incorporated, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to IVZ Incorporated pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco Group Services Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to IVZ Incorporated Invesco Group Services Inc. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
IVZ UK Limited, London, United Kingdom, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to IVZ UK Limited pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco Management Group Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco Management Group Inc. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco North American Holdings Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco North American Holdings Inc. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco Advisers Incorporated, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco Advisers Incorporated pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 WpHG.
On 22 January 2014, the Company received notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG from Wallberg Invest S.A.:
Wallberg Invest S.A., Luxembourg, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% on 16 January 2014 and amounted to 3.51% on that date (293,939 voting rights).
FAS S.A., Luxembourg, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% on 16 January 2014 and amounted to 3.51% on that date (293,939 voting rights). Of that figure, 3% or more was allocated to it via Wallberg Invest S.A. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1) Sentence 1 No. 1 WpHG.
Mr. Marcel Ernzer, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that his share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% on 16 January 2014 and amounted to 3.51% on that date (293,939 voting rights). Of that figure, 3% or more was allocated to him via the companies Wallberg Invest S.A. and FAS S.A. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1) Sentence 1 No. 1 WpHG.
In a letter dated 20 May 2014, Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH announced that its share of voting rights in CENIT exceeded the threshold of 3%:
Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 15 May 2014 and amounted to 3.19% on that date (corresponding to 266,940 voting rights). 2.36% of the voting rights (corresponding to 197,857 voting rights) are allocable to the company pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 WpHG.
On 3 July 2014, the Company received notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG from Allianz Global Investors Europe:
Allianz Global Investors Europe GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 1 July 2014 and amounted to 5.03% on that date (corresponding to 420,958 voting rights). 1.35% of the voting rights (corresponding to 113,250 voting rights) are allocable to the company pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 WpHG.
In a letter dated 12 August 2014, Axxion S.A. informed us that its share of voting rights in CENIT exceeded the threshold of 3%:
Axxion S.A., Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 12 August 2014 and amounted to 3.01% on that date (corresponding to 252,149 voting rights).
On 16 September 2014, the Company received further notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG from Axxion S.A.:
Axxion S.A., Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, fell below the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 15 September 2014 and amounted to 2.95% on that date (corresponding to 247,149 voting rights).
In a letter dated 13 October 2014, Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH announced that its share of voting rights in CENIT fell below the threshold of 3%:
Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, fell below the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 10 October 2014 and amounted to 2.95% on that date (corresponding to 246,957 voting rights). 2.33% of the voting rights (corresponding to 194,784 voting rights) are allocable to the company pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 WpHG.
On 22 December 2014, the Company received notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG from Axxion S.A.:
Axxion S.A., Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 22 December 2014 and amounted to 3.01% on that date (corresponding to 251,649 voting rights).
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Fees for the audit of the financial statements and consolidated financial statements |
119 | 114 |
| Fees for other services | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 122 | 117 |
There were no events after the reporting period that could have a significant influence on the Group's financial position and performance.
The management board and supervisory board of the Company have issued the declaration for 2014 required by Sec. 161 AktG and made it available on the Company's homepage (http://www.cenit.com/de_DE/investor-relations/corporategovernance.html).
Stuttgart, 2 March 2015
CENIT Aktiengesellschaft
The Management Board
Kurt Bengel Matthias Schmidt Spokesman, Management Board Member, Management Board
We have audited the consolidated financial statements prepared by the CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart, comprising the statement of financial position, the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of changes in equity, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the consolidated financial statements, together with the management report of the CENIT group and the company for the financial year from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements and the management report of the CENIT group and the company in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, and the additional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to § 315a(1) of the HGB and the supplementary provisions of the articles of incorporation are the responsibility of the legal representatives of the parent company. 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 of the HGB and the German generally accepted standards for the audit of financial statements promulgated by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer [Institute of Public Auditors in Germany] (IDW). 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 management report of the CENIT group and the company 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 management report of the CENIT group and the company are examined primarily on a test basis within the framework of the audit. The audit includes assessing the financial information of those components consolidated, the scope of the consolidation, the accounting and consolidation principles used and the significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements and the management report of the CENIT group and the company. 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 comply with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, the additional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to § 315a(1) of the HGB and the supplementary provisions of the articles of incorporation 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 management report of the CENIT group and the company 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.
Stuttgart, March 5, 2015
BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
gez. Andreas Müller gez. Stefan Anderer Wirtschaftsprüfer Wirtschaftsprüfer (German Public Auditor) (German Public Auditor)
At CENIT AG, good corporate governance is a core component of enterprise management. The Management and Supervisory Boards of CENIT AG welcome the model set by the German Corporate Governance Code and have resolved to widely implement and observe the regulations of the Code. In this way, CENIT AG documents the fact that responsible, values-oriented corporate governance, and its consistent monitoring, are accorded top priority within CENIT Group.
As a listed company, CENIT AG is aware that it is the shareholders who provide the necessary growth capital and thus also assume part of the entrepreneurial risk. For this reason maximum transparency, open and timely communication with investors, efficient risk management, compliance with stock exchange rules, and an enterprise management that focuses on creating added value all already form important components of CENIT's enterprise philosophy.
Additionally, CENIT AG is already subject to a number of strict reporting requirements as a result of its listed status on the Prime Standard of the regulated market. This means that CENIT AG already fulfills many of the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code.
The Management and Supervisory Boards of CENIT have issued the Declaration of Conformity with the Corporate Governance Code as prescribed by § 161 AktG [Stock Corporation Act], and have made it available on the Company's homepage (http://www.cenit.com/de_DE/investor-relations/corporate-governance.html).
For the year 2014, the Management and Supervisory Boards of the Company have issued the Declaration on Corporate Governance prescribed by § 289a HGB [Commercial Code] and have made it readily available on the internet homepage via the following link: http://www.cenit.com/de_DE/investor-relations/corporategovernance.html. The Declaration on Corporate Governance (§ 289a HGB) includes the Declaration of Conformity, information on corporate governance practices, and a description of the operating principles of the Management and Supervisory Boards.
The Supervisory Board and the Management Board work in close cooperation for the greater benefit of the Company.
The Management Board informs the Supervisory Board in a regular, timely and comprehensive manner as to the course of business, the economic and financial development of CENIT, as well as on the risk situation, risk management, compliance topics, and fundamental matters of enterprise strategy. Decisions of a substantial nature require approval by the Supervisory Board.
The chief task of the Supervisory Board is to advise and supervise the Management Board. Employee interests are appropriately represented by the employee representative on the Supervisory Board. Supervisory Board sessions are held on a regular basis, and where required supplemented by telephone conferences. Due to the low number of Supervisory board members, committees are not formed.
In filling management positions and taking other personnel decisions, the Supervisory and Management Boards are guided solely by the capabilities and qualifications of the available candidates, without according any special or elevated significance to gender.
The same is true for the selection of the members of the Company's bodies. The selection prioritizes aptitude and qualification. In the opinion of CENIT AG, the special weighting of further criteria, as prescribed by the Code, would unduly restrict the selection of potential candidates for the Management/Supervisory Boards. The fact that the Management Board is currently made up of only two members and the Supervisory Board of three members also deserves mention in this context.
The Supervisory and Management Boards expressly welcome all endeavors which promote diversity and counteract discrimination on the basis of gender, or any other form of discrimination.
The Supervisory Board advises and supervises the Management Board. The Supervisory Board of CENIT AG is composed of three members. Two of these are elected by the General Meeting of Shareholders, one by the employees of the enterprise. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is elected from among its members.
The Supervisory Board appoints the members of the Management Board. It supervises and advises the Management Board in its governance of the Company. Substantial decisions by the Management Board require Supervisory Board approval. Supervisory Board members are remunerated on a non-performance-related basis. During the reporting year, there were no changes in the composition of the Supervisory Board.
In accordance with § 14 of the Articles of Association, the members of the Supervisory Board received the following remuneration during the year 2014:
| in TEUR 2014 |
2014 | 2013 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| non performance related remuneration |
performance related remuneration |
non performance related remuneration |
performance related remuneration |
|
| Andreas Schmidt | 30.0 | 0 | 30.0 | 0 |
| Hubert Leypoldt | 22.5 | 0 | 22.5 | 0 |
| Andreas Karrer | 15.0 | 0 | 15.0 | 0 |
| Total | 67.5 | 0 | 67.5 | 0 |
The Management Board is the management body of the Company. It conducts the business of the enterprise on its own responsibility and within the framework determined by corporate law. It is obligated to further the interests of the Company and bound by principles of business policy. It reports to the Supervisory Board in a regular, timely and comprehensive manner on all substantial matters of business development, enterprise strategy, and potential risks. The remuneration of Management Board members is made up of fixed and performance-related components. During the reporting year, there were no changes in the composition of the Management Board.
During the reporting year, the members of the Management Board received the following remuneration:
| in TEUR | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Kurt Bengel | ||
| non-performance-related remuneration | 244 | 245 |
| performance-related remuneration | 138 | 125 |
| long-term incentive remuneration | 126 | 127 |
| Matthias Schmidt | ||
| non-performance-related remuneration | 214 | 194 |
| performance-related remuneration | 112 | 101 |
| long-term inventive remuneration | 130 | 118 |
| Christian Pusch | ||
| non-performance-related remuneration | 0 | 141 |
| performance-related remuneration | 0 | 73 |
| benefits following termination of employment | 0 | 115 |
| Total | 964 | 1,239 |
The variable remuneration of the Management Board is divided into a short-term and a long-term component, whereby the short-term component is paid out during the following year. The long-term component is paid out after three years, if and when further criteria are fulfilled. Furthermore, the total annual remuneration is capped at EUR 500,000.00 per Board member.
The employment contracts of Mr. Bengel and Mr. Schmidt include compensation payments in accordance with § 74 HGB for the duration of a one-year no-competition term, as well as provisions for six months of continued remuneration for the benefit of surviving dependents in the event of the death of a Management Board member.
No further assurances as to pension benefits and payments in the event of a termination of Management Board membership have been made. Should the Company prematurely terminate the employment contract without cause, the Management Board member shall receive a severance payment not exceeding two annual payments of the contractually agreed fixed remuneration for the remainder of the employment contract. Under no circumstances shall the payment exceed the remuneration for the remainder of the employment contract.
The employment contract of Mr. Bengel has been extended for a further five years effective January 1, 2015. The employment contract of Mr. Schmidt has likewise been extended, by a further four years and six months effective February 1, 2015. In both contracts, the cap for total remuneration has been increased to EUR 750,000.00 each.
Share portfolios on December 31, 2014
| Total number of shares: Management Board: |
8,367,758 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supervisory Board: | ||||||
| Kurt Bengel: | 6,000 | Andreas Schmidt: | 191,792 | |||
| Matthias Schmidt: | 1,670 | Hubert Leypoldt: | 1,600 | |||
| Andreas Karrer: | 1,000 |
During the 2010 business year, a limited group of employees was been invited to subscribe to virtual share options, i.e. so-called stock appreciation rights that may only be paid out in cash (cash-settled transactions). These virtual share options constitute a special form of performance-related remuneration which is linked to the performance of CENIT stock rather than to CENIT's annual business performance.
The last option was exercised during the past business year. On December 31, 2014 no liabilities from share options remained in relation to employees.
Our shareholders exercise their rights during the General Meeting of the Company. The annual meeting of shareholders takes place during the first six months of the business year and is chaired by the Chairman of the Management Board. The General Meeting decides on all matters assigned to it by law (including election of the members of the Supervisory Board, amendments to the Articles of Association, appropriation of profits, capital measures).
All documents and information pertaining to the General Meeting are duly made available to the shareholders via our website.
The consolidated financial statement of CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart, is prepared by the Management Board in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as they apply to the EU, and in compliance with the supplementary provisions of commercial law that apply pursuant to § 315a Para. 1 HGB. The consolidated financial statement is audited by the statutory auditor and approved by the Supervisory Board. The consolidated financial statement is made publicly available within 90 days upon adoption.
The statutory auditor is BDO Aktiengesellschaft Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft.
An agreement was reached with the statutory auditor to the effect that the Chairman of the Supervisory Board shall be immediately informed of any grounds for exclusion or exemption as well as any errors or omissions in the Declaration of Conformity as may be discovered during the course of the audit. The statutory auditor shall also immediately inform the Supervisory Board of any and all matters and events relevant to the Board's tasks that may arise during the course of the audit.
Comprehensive and timely reporting on the business situation and the business results of CENIT AG is conducted by way of the annual report, the quarterly reports, and the mid-year financial statement. The respective dates of publication are published at the beginning of each business year in our financial calendar. The Articles of Association, presentations, press releases and ad-hoc reports are made available as well. All reports and communications can be accessed on the Internet at www.cenit.com/de_DE/investor-relations.html. CENIT AG has also prepared the prescribed insider directory. The affected individuals have been informed as to their statutory duties and sanctions.
Development of CENIT Shares on the Financial Market
Source: wallstreet online CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart
CENIT shares began the 2014 stock market year at a price of EUR 10.20 and ended the year at EUR 11.79. The 52 weeks of the year saw an average trade volume of 14,255 shares per day (2013: 18,551 shares per day). The annual average price of CENIT AG shares for 2014 was EUR 11.46, with an annual high of EUR 12.55 and an annual low of EUR 8.82. Over 3 million shares were traded in total. Due to the high free-float level, only rudimentary data on the shareholder structure can be determined. In terms of the shareholder size and composition, this permits the following overview of the shareholder group:
The following investors hold a share of stock subject to a reporting requirement:
| Enterprise | reported on | number | percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco | Jan. 17,2014 | 441,353 | 5.27 |
| Allianz Global Investors | Jul 01, 2014 | 420,958 | 5.03 |
| LBBW Asset Management | Nov. 15, 2011 | 385,421 | 4.61 |
| Wallberg Invest | Jan. 22, 2014 | 293,939 | 3.51 |
| Baden-Württembergische Versorgungs anstalt für Ärzte, Zahnärzte und Tierärzte |
Aug. 05, 2011 | 262,000 | 3.13 |
| Axxion | Dec. 22, 2014 | 251,649 | 3.01 |
Source: CENIT AG, Stuttgart
Currently, five banking and analysis agencies publish research reports on CENIT, namely buy recommendations by Hauck & Aufhäuser, Hamburg, equinet Bank AG, Frankfurt, GBC AG, Augsburg, Edison Investment Research, London and Mirabaud Securities, London. CENIT stock is listed on the Prime Standard of Deutsche Börse and fulfills the applicable international transparency requirements.
(Group Financial Report)
After considering comments received, the German Accounting Standards Board (GASB) agreed at its 114th meeting on the following wording of the responsibility statement required by section 37y no. 1 of the Wertpapierhandelsgesetz (WpHG – German Securities Trading Act) in conjunction with sections 297(2) sentence 2 and 315(1) sentence 6 of the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB – German Commercial Code) for the Group financial statements:
"To the best of our knowledge, and in accordance with the applicable reporting principles, the Group financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group, and the group management report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the group, together with a
description of the principal opportunities and risks associated with the expected development of the group."
For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that if an entity is obliged to prepare an annual financial report in accordance with section 37v(1) and (2) of the WpHG, it must also comply with the requirements of sections 264(2) sentence 3 and 289(1) sentence 5 of the HGB (single-entity financial statements).
The Management Board
Kurt Bengel Matthias Schmidt Spokesman, Management Board Member, Management Board
| CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BALANCE SHEET as of 31 December 2014 |
| 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | EUR | EUR | EUR | |
| A. | FIXED ASSETS | |||
| I. | Intangible assets | |||
| 1. Purchased franchises, industrial and similar rights and assets and licenses in such rights and assets |
1,779,826.49 | 611,278.78 | ||
| 2. Payments on account | 184,991.49 | 233,906.35 | ||
| 1,964,817.98 | 845,185.13 | |||
| II. | Property, plant and equipment | |||
| 1. Land and buildings including buildings on third-party land. |
713,787.20 | 765,926.81 | ||
| 2. Plant | 1,403,941.13 | 1,412,147.90 | ||
| 3. Other equipment, furniture and fixtures | 106,208.67 | 131,418.46 | ||
| 2,223,937.00 | 2,309,493.17 | |||
| III. | Financial assets | |||
| 1. Shares in affiliates | 923,314.22 | 923,314.22 | ||
| 2. Equity investments | 52,554.25 | 52,554.25 | ||
| 3. Securities classified as fixed assets | 0.00 | 2,000,000.00 | ||
| 975,868.47 | 2,975,868.47 | |||
| B. | CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| I. | Inventories | |||
| 1. Work in process | 1,673,789.87 | 1,334,212.53 | ||
| 2. Payments on account | 0.00 | 1,553.47 | ||
| 1,673,789.87 | 1,335,766.00 | |||
| II. | Receivables and other assets | |||
| 1. Trade receivables | 10,341,815.14 | 9,962,898.50 | ||
| 2. Receivables from affiliates | 1,558,794.03 | 301,948.74 | ||
| 3. Receivables from other investees and investors |
3,236,844.02 | 3,420,742.54 | ||
| 4. Other assets | 1,270,304.53 | 1,154,724.78 | ||
| 16,407,757.72 | 14,840,314.56 | |||
| III. | Cash on hand, bank balances and cheques | 27,126,145.97 | 20,359,819.25 | |
| C. | PREPAID EXPENSES | |||
| 3,539,574.01 | 4,760,870.34 | |||
| 53,911,891.02 | 47,427,316.92 |
| BALANCE SHEET as of 31 December 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 | |||
| PASSIVA | EUR | EUR | EUR | |
| A. | EQUITY | |||
| I. | Subscribed capital | 8,367,758.00 | 8,367,758.00 | |
| II. | Capital reserves | 1,058,017.90 | 1,058,017.90 | |
| III. | Revenue reserves | |||
| 1. Legal reserve | 418,387.90 | 418,387.90 | ||
| 2. Other revenue reserves | 15,370,955.48 | 15,870,955.48 | ||
| IV. | Net retained profit | 7,562,330.27 | 2,961,936.69 | |
| 32,777,449.55 | 28,677,055.97 | |||
| B. | PROVISIONS | |||
| 1. Tax provisions | 0.00 | 347,877.35 | ||
| 2. Other provisions | 7,163,080.09 | 6,096,730.07 | ||
| 7,163,080.09 | 6,444,607.42 | |||
| C. | LIABILITIES | |||
| 1. Payments received on account of orders | 2,716,223.08 | 2,507,309.19 | ||
| 2. Trade payables | 3,416,242.34 | 2,918,924.27 | ||
| 3. Liabilities to affiliates | 141,597.04 | 147,352.58 | ||
| 4. Liabilities to other investees and investors | 51,219.62 | 37,571.39 | ||
| 5. Other liabilities | 2,292,131.56 | 1,741,173.00 | ||
| thereof for social security: EUR 0,00 (prior year: 0 k) |
||||
| thereof for taxes: EUR 1.541.117,68 (prior year: EUR 1.395 k) |
||||
| 8,617,413.64 | 7,352,330.43 | |||
| D. | DEFERRED INCOME | |||
| 5,353,947.74 | 4,953,323.10 | |||
| 53,911,891.02 | 47,427,316.92 |
| 2014 | 2013 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | EUR | EUR | ||
| 1. | Revenue | 103,867,905.53 | 101,854,252.19 | |
| 2. | Increase in inventories of unbilled services | 339,577.34 | 894,382.35 | |
| 3. | Other operating income | 1,059,232.46 | 1,565,911.53 | |
| thereof income from currency translation: EUR 43,926.05 (prior year: EUR 36 k) |
||||
| Total operating performance | 105,266,715.33 | 104,314,546.07 | ||
| 4. | Cost of materials | |||
| a. | Cost of raw materials, consumables and supplies and of merchandise |
34,698,878.12 | 31,767,675.82 | |
| b. | Cost of purchased services | 6,817,543.71 | 8,670,440.89 | |
| 41,516,421.83 | 40,438,116.71 | |||
| 5. | Personnel expenses | |||
| a. | Salaries | 34,893,841.91 | 34,845,045.55 | |
| b. | Social security and pension costs | 6,154,569.09 | 5,981,327.52 | |
| 41,048,411.00 | 40,826,373.07 | |||
| 6. | Amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation of property, plant and equipment |
1,260,787.23 | 1,365,043.22 | |
| 7. | Other operating expenses | 14,283,416.93 | 14,649,107.74 | |
| thereof from currency translation: EUR 58,393.77 (prior year: EUR 115 k) |
||||
| Operating result | 7,157,678.34 | 7,035,905.33 | ||
| 8. | Income from equity investments | 2,100,651.25 | 76,034.42 | |
| thereof from affiliates: EUR 2,100,651.25 (prior year: EUR 76 k) |
||||
| 9. | Income from other securities and loans classified as fixed financial assets |
7,399.00 | 7,429.78 | |
| 10. | Other interest and similar income | 162,409.21 | 87,444.59 | |
| thereof from affiliates: EUR 15,625.00 (prior year: EUR 0 k) |
||||
| 11. | Interest and similar expenses | 43,632.59 | 36,002.52 | |
| thereof from unwinding of the discount on provisions: EUR 29,121.28 (prior year: 16 k) |
||||
| Result from ordinary activities | 9,384,505.21 | 7,170,811.60 | ||
| 12. | Income taxes | 2,300,205.59 | 2,298,874.49 | |
| 13. | Other taxes | 55,190.74 | 58,118.26 | |
| 14. | Net income for the year | 7,029,108.88 | 4,813,818.85 | |
| Acquisition and production cost | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in EUR | As of 1 Jan. 2014 |
Additions | Disposals | Reclassi fication |
As of 31 Dec. 2014 |
|
| I. Intangible assets |
||||||
| 1. Franchises, industrial and similar rights and assets and licenses in such rights |
||||||
| and assets | 2,428,766.77 | 1,378,680.29 | 58,283.82 | 289,073.33 | 4,038,236.57 | |
| 2. Payments on account | 233,906.35 | 240,158.47 | 0.00 | -289,073.33 | 184,991.49 | |
| Total | 2,662,673.12 | 1,618,838.76 | 58,283.82 | 0.00 | 4,223,228.06 | |
| II. Property, plant and equipment |
||||||
| 1. Land and buildings including buildings on third-party land |
1,737,705.02 | 1,301.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,739,006.52 | |
| 2. Plant | 5,927,608.84 | 613,307.20 | 283,850.59 | 0.00 | 6,257,065.45 | |
| 3. Other equipment, furniture and fixtures |
648,130.28 | 66,413.52 | 36,379.62 | 0,00 | 678,164.18 | |
| Total | 8,313,444.14 | 681,022.22 | 320,230.21 | 0.00 | 8,674,236.15 | |
| III. Financial assets |
||||||
| 1. Shares in affiliates | 923,314.22 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 923,314.22 | |
| 2. Equity investments | 52,554.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 52,554.25 | |
| 3. Securities classified as fixed assets |
2,000,000.00 | 0.00 | 2,000,000.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Total | 2,975,868.47 | 0.00 | 2,000,000.00 | 0.00 | 975,868.47 | |
| Fixed assets | ||||||
| Total | 13,951,985.73 | 2,299,860.98 | 2,378,514.03 | 0.00 | 13,873,332.68 |
| Accumulated amortisation, depreciation and write-downs | Net book values | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of 1 Jan. 2014 |
Additions | Disposals | As of 31 Dec. 2014 |
As of 31 Dec. 2014 |
As of 31 Dec. 2013 |
| 1,817,487.99 | 499,205.40 | 58,283.31 | 2,258,410.08 | 1,779,826.49 | 611,278.78 |
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 184,991.49 | 233,906.35 |
| 1,817,487.99 | 499,205.40 | 58,283.31 | 2,258,410.08 | 1,964,817.98 | 845,185.13 |
| 971,778.21 | 53,441.11 | 0.00 | 1,025,219.32 | 713,787.20 | 765,926.81 |
| 4,515,460.94 | 618,251.21 | 280,587.83 | 4,853,124.32 | 1,403,941.13 | 1,412,147.90 |
| 516,711.82 | 89,889.51 | 34,645.82 | 571,955.51 | 106,208.67 | 131,418.46 |
| 6,003,950.97 | 761,581.83 | 315,233.65 | 6,450,299.15 | 2,223,937.00 | 2,309,493.17 |
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 923,314.22 | 923,314.22 |
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 52,554.25 | 52,554.25 |
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,000,000.00 |
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 975,868.47 | 2,975,868.47 |
| 7,821,438.96 | 1,260,787.23 | 373,516.96 | 8,708,709.23 | 5,164,623.45 | 6,130,546.77 |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Sec. 242 et seq. and Sec. 264 et seq. HGB ["Handelsgesetzbuch": German Commercial Code] as well as in accordance with the relevant provisions of the AktG ["Aktiengesetz": German Stock Corporation Act]. The Company is subject to the requirements for large corporations. The standards of the German Accounting Standards Committee e.V., Berlin, (GASC) have been observed to the extent that they are relevant for the financial statements of the Company.
The income statement is classified using the nature of expense method.
The following accounting and valuation methods, which essentially remained unchanged in comparison to the prior year, have been used to prepare the financial statements.
Acquired intangible assets are recognised at acquisition cost and are amortised over their useful lives using the straight-line method if they have a limited life. Additions are amortised pro rata temporis. The depreciation tables published by the German Ministry of Finance serve as a guide here.
Property, plant and equipment are recognised at acquisition or production cost and are depreciated if they have a limited life. Depreciation is recorded over the customary useful life using the straight-line method. The depreciation tables published by the German Ministry of Finance serve as a guide here.
Low-value assets with an individual net value not exceeding EUR 150 were fully expensed in the year of acquisition. Assets with an individual net value not exceeding EUR 410 in value are fully expensed in the year of acquisition with their immediate disposal being assumed. For convenience, the collective item procedure applied for tax purposes to assets acquired after 31 December 2007 and before 1 January 2010 with an individual net value of more than EUR 150 but no greater than EUR 1,000 is also used in the commercial balance sheet. The collective item is written down on a lump-sum basis over the customary useful life of three years.
Financial assets are recognised at the lower of cost or market.
Work in process is valued at production cost or, in the case of third-party work, at acquisition cost. Own work comprises direct labour and appropriate, proportionate overheads for personnel, write-downs and rent. As the lower limit for production cost in the tax accounts has been increased to include general administrative expenses, this change has also been applied in the commercial balance sheet exercising the option provided by Sec. 255 (2) Sentence 3 HGB. This change led to an increase of EUR 210 k in work in process.
Merchandise is recognised at the lower of cost or market as of the balance sheet date.
Receivables and other assets are stated at their nominal value. All identifiable specific risks are taken into account in the valuation. A general bad debt allowance of 1% (prior year: 1%) was established for the general credit risk. Non-interest bearing receivables due in more than one year are discounted.
Provisions account for all foreseeable risks and contingent liabilities and are recognised at the settlement value deemed necessary according to prudent business judgement. Expected future cost increases are included in valuing the provisions. Provisions with a residual term of more than one year were discounted at the average market interest rate of the last seven fiscal years for their respective residual term. The provision for general warranties is recorded in the reporting year at 0.5% (prior year: 0.5%) of sales. A provision of EUR 172 k was recognised in the fiscal year for individual cases of warranty (prior year: EUR 89 k).
Liabilities are recorded at the settlement value.
To determine deferred taxes arising due to temporary or quasi-permanent differences between the carrying amounts of assets, liabilities, prepaid expenses and deferred income in the statutory accounts and their tax carrying amounts, the resulting tax burden and relief are valued using the company-specific tax rate at the time the differences reverse; these amounts are not discounted. The option not to recognise deferred tax assets was exercised.
Foreign currency assets and liabilities were translated using the average spot rate on the balance sheet date. If they had residual terms of more than one year, the realisation principle (Sec. 252 (1) No. 4 Clause 2 HGB) and the historical cost principle (Sec. 253 (1) Sentence 1 HGB) were applied.
Revenue relates to the income recorded from normal business activities. Revenue is reported as a net figure, i.e. excluding VAT and less sales deductions. Revenue is recognised when the transfer of risk to the customer has taken place in the case of a delivery, or when the contractually owed performance has been provided in the case of services. The recognition of revenue from license transactions depends on whether a temporary or permanent right of use is granted. If license transactions are carried out that grant the licensee a temporary right of use, revenue is recognised on a straight-line basis over the performance period. If the licenses grant a permanent right of use, the once-off primary license charge (PLC) is reported on the date of obtaining control and the annual license charge (ALC) is reported as revenue pro rata temporis.
The development of fixed asset items is presented separately in the statement of changes in fixed assets (page 4f.).
The information on shareholdings breaks down as follows:
| No. | Name and location of registered offices |
Cur rency |
Share holding in % |
Subscribed capital LC k |
Sub scribed capital LC k |
Earnings LC k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CENIT (Schweiz) AG Effretikon, Switzerland |
CHF | 100.0 | 500 | 1,485 | 735 |
| 2 | CENIT North America Inc. Auburn Hills, USA |
USD | 100.0 | 25 | 4,695 | 1,890 |
| 3 | CENIT SRL Iasi, Romania |
RON | 100.0 | 344 | 1,808 | 928 |
| 4 | CENIT France SARL Toulouse, France |
EUR | 100.0 | 10 | 277 | 42 |
| 5 | CENIT Japan K.K. Tokyo, Japan |
YEN | 100.0 | 34,000 | -11,727 | -18,167 |
| 6 | CenProCS AIRliance GmbH Stuttgart, Germany |
EUR | 33.3 | 150 | 152 | 0 |
Trade receivables are all due in less than one year.
Receivables from affiliates include receivables of EUR 750 k from granting a loan to CENIT France SARL (prior year: EUR 0 k). The remaining receivables from affiliates of EUR 809 k (prior year: EUR 302 k) and the receivables from other investees and investors valued at EUR 3,237 k (prior year: EUR 3,421 k) stem from trade and are due in less than one year.
Other assets primarily consist of EUR 1,097 k (prior year: EUR 927 k) of assets relating to tax refund claims. This includes EUR 834 k (prior year: EUR 583 k) in tax refund claims from corporate income tax, solidarity surcharge and trade tax as well as the credit balance of EUR 263 k (prior year: EUR 344 k) from the tax moratorium. EUR 169 k (prior year: EUR 250 k) of the credit balance from the moratorium is long term, with a residual term of more than one year. The credit balance from the moratorium came into existence as of 31 December 2006. It is not subject to interest and has thus been discounted by 4% to its present value. Payment is due between 2008 and 2017 in ten equal annual amounts. Other assets also include claims for damages of EUR 134 k. EUR 84 k of this figure is long term, with a residual term of more than one year.
| in EUR k | 31 Dec. 2014 | 31 Dec. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Accrued rights of use for licenses | 2,957 | 4,071 |
| Other prepaid expenses | 583 | 690 |
| Total | 3,540 | 4,761 |
This mainly concerns prepaid expenses for licenses and for rights of use and insurance.
Deferred taxes stem chiefly from accounting and valuation differences between the statutory accounts and the tax accounts. These differences relate mostly to other provisions.
On the whole there are net deferred tax assets, and the option to capitalise these deferred tax assets was not exercised.
Deferred tax assets must be calculated based on a tax rate of 30% (prior year: 30%).
As per the most recent entry in the commercial register on 14 August 2006, the capital stock of the Company amounts to EUR 8,367,758.00 and has been fully paid in. It is divided into 8,367,758 no-par value shares of EUR 1.00 each. The shares are made out to the bearer and are all no-par value common shares.
The executive board is authorised, with the approval of the supervisory board, to increase the capital stock by up to EUR 4,183,879.00 in total by 25 May 2016 by issuing on one or more occasions new no-par value bearer shares in return for cash contributions or contributions in kind (authorised capital 2011). The number of shares must increase in direct proportion to the increase in capital stock. The shareholders must be given a subscription right. The new shares can also be assumed by one bank or by several banks with the obligation to offer them to the Company's shareholders for purchase.
However, the executive board is authorised, with the approval of the supervisory board, to preclude the shareholders' statutory subscription right in the following cases:
with the purpose of acquiring companies, parts of companies and/or equity investments in companies or in the course of business combinations.
c) The executive board is authorised, with the approval of the supervisory board, to preclude the shareholders' subscription right in the event of a capital increase in return for a cash contribution if the capital increases passed on the basis of this approval do not exceed a total of 10% of the existing capital stock as of the date of the resolution by the shareholder meeting or as of the date on which the approval is exercised, whichever is lower, and if the issue amount is not substantially less than the quoted market price. The maximum limit of 10% of the capital stock is reduced by the proportionate amount of the capital stock accounted for by those treasury shares of the Company that were sold during the term of the authorised capital with exclusion of the subscription right of the shareholders in accordance with Sec. 71 (1) No. 8 Sentence 5 AktG and Sec. 186 (3) Sentence 4 AktG.
The total number of shares issued based on this authorisation in return for cash contributions and contributions in kind with exclusion of the subscription right of the shareholders cannot exceed a proportionate amount of capital stock of EUR 1,673,551 (20% of current capital stock). The executive board is authorised, subject to approval of the supervisory board, to decide on further details of the capital increase and the conditions of the share issue.
The supervisory board is authorised to adjust the version of Article 5 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws after partial or full implementation of the increase in capital stock in accordance with the respective utilisation of the authorised capital.
The capital reserves remained unchanged in the fiscal year, at EUR 1,058 k.
At EUR 418 k, the legal reserve has also remained unchanged in comparison to the prior year.
Other revenue reserves fell by EUR 500 k from EUR 15,871 k to EUR 15,371 k on account of withdrawals.
Net retained profit developed as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Net income for the year | 7,029 | 4,814 |
| Net retained earnings in the prior year | 2,962 | 4,650 |
| Dividend | -2,929 | -4,602 |
| Profit carryforward from the prior year | 33 | 48 |
| Withdrawals from/transfers to other revenue reserves |
500 | -1,900 |
| Net retained profit | 7,562 | 2,962 |
Other provisions essentially comprise provisions for personnel expenses of EUR 4,576 k (prior year: EUR 3,452 k), provisions for warranties of EUR 646 k (prior year: EUR 599 k), provisions for outstanding supplier invoices of EUR 941 k (prior year: EUR 1,103 k) and provisions for long-service bonuses of EUR 364 k (prior year: EUR 365 k).
As in the prior year, trade payables have a remaining term of less than one year.
Liabilities to affiliates include trade payables of EUR 106 k (prior year: EUR 82 k). They also include prepayments received amounting to EUR 36 k (prior year: EUR 65 k). As in the prior year, liabilities to affiliates are due within one year.
The liabilities to other investees and investors contain trade payables amounting to EUR 51 k (prior year: EUR 38 k). As in the prior year, the corresponding liabilities are due within one year.
Other liabilities include deferred items of EUR 200 k (prior year: EUR 239 k). This entire figure relates to the deferred rent (prior year: EUR 239 k).
EUR 1,869 k (prior year: EUR 1,541 k) of other liabilities is due within one year, while EUR 48 k (prior year: EUR 73 k) is due in more than five years. The long-term portion stems from the deferral of rent.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| CENIT software | 10,887 | 11,172 |
| Third-party software | 46,025 | 41,346 |
| CENIT consulting and service | 46,488 | 49,085 |
| Merchandise | 468 | 251 |
| Total | 103,868 | 101,854 |
88% (prior year: 90%) of sales was generated in Germany, 6% (prior year: 4%) in other EU countries and 6% (prior year: 6%) in other countries.
Among other things, other operating income includes income from cross-charged salary and administrative costs of EUR 510 k (prior year: EUR 594 k), insurance refunds of EUR 7 k (prior year: EUR 11 k), rental income from subletting of EUR 15 k (prior year: EUR 32 k), income from the reversal of provisions of EUR 259 k (prior year: EUR 411 k), marketing and sales subsidies from partner companies of EUR 71 k (prior year: EUR 83 k) and exchange gains of EUR 44 k (prior year: EUR 36 k).
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Salaries | 34,893 | 34,845 |
| Social security contributions | 6,155 | 5,981 |
| Total | 41,048 | 40,826 |
Social security contributions include pension costs of EUR 203 k (prior year: EUR 171 k).
At EUR 14,283 k, total other operating expenses are down marginally compared to the prior year (EUR 14,649 k). Other operating expenses essentially relate to premises expenses of EUR 2,464 k (prior year: EUR 2,533 k), vehicle costs of EUR 2,449 k (prior year: EUR 2,562 k), travel expenses of EUR 1,921 k (prior year: EUR 1,926 k), marketing costs of EUR 986 k (prior year: EUR 981 k) and exchange losses of EUR 58 k (prior year: EUR 115 k).
The financial and interest result breaks down as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Income from equity investments | ||
| Dividend CENIT (Schweiz) AG | 1,939 | 0 |
| Dividend CENIT SRL, Romania | 162 | 76 |
| Total | 2,101 | 76 |
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Income from other long-term investments | ||
| Interest income | 7 | 7 |
| Total | 7 | 7 |
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Other interest and similar income | ||
| Bank interest and interest from securities | 133 | 71 |
| Interest on loans granted to subsidiaries | 16 | 0 |
| Income from the tax moratorium | 13 | 16 |
| Total | 162 | 87 |
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Interest and similar expenses | ||
| Guarantee commission | 15 | 12 |
| Interest expenses for company taxes | 0 | 8 |
| Interest expense from unwinding the discount on provisions/liabilities |
29 | 16 |
| Total | 44 | 36 |
Income relating to other periods includes income from the reversal of provisions totalling EUR 259 k (prior year: EUR 411 k). Expenses relating to other periods of EUR 3 k stem from other operating expenses (prior year: EUR 28 k). There were no personnel-related expenses relating to other periods in the fiscal year (prior year: EUR 26 k).
There were no extraordinary expenses in the fiscal year 2014.
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Current corporate income tax expense | 1,108 | 958 |
| Current solidarity surcharge expense | 61 | 55 |
| Current trade tax expense | 1,154 | 1,038 |
| Withholding tax | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes in prior years | -23 | 248 |
| Total | 2,300 | 2,299 |
Taxes mainly include corporate income tax and the solidarity surcharge of EUR 1,169 k (prior year: EUR 1,013 k) as well as trade tax of EUR 1,154 k (prior year: EUR 1,038 k) on the taxable income for the fiscal year 2014.
The following appropriation of retained earnings will be proposed at the shareholder meeting:
| in EUR k | |
|---|---|
| Net retained profit | 7,562 |
| Dividend distribution (90 cents per 8,367,758 participating no-par value shares) |
7,531 |
| Profit carryforward | 31 |
The information on auditors' fees pursuant to Sec. 285 No. 17 HGB is provided in the consolidated financial statements of CENIT AG.
An average of 558 (prior year: 571) members of staff were employed during the fiscal year, plus 52 (prior year: 50) trainees.
There are other financial obligations in connection with rental agreements and leases. The resulting financial obligations are included in the following table:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Rent and lease obligations | ||
| Due within 1 year | 2,779 | 2,932 |
| Due in 1 to 5 years | 5,725 | 5,728 |
| Due in more than 5 years | 1,916 | 2,928 |
| Total | 10,420 | 11,588 |
Other financial obligations chiefly comprise the rent agreements entered into for leased office buildings of EUR 7,982 k (prior year: EUR 9,375 k) as well as vehicle leases of EUR 1,646 k (prior year: EUR 1,605 k). The extension options and price adjustment clauses customary for the industry apply.
The company cars and communications equipment were leased by means of lease agreements in order to guarantee that these are always up to date and to avoid tying up liquidity. Renting office space also avoids tying up cash and cash equivalents. These agreements result in cash outflows in future periods that are included in the above list.
During the fiscal year the following persons were members of the executive board:
Dipl.-Ing. Kurt Bengel, Waiblingen, spokesman of the executive board of CENIT AG. Responsible for: operations, investor relations and marketing.
Dipl.-Wirt.-Inf. Matthias Schmidt, Bad Liebenzell, member of the executive board of CENIT AG. Responsible for: finance, organisation and personnel.
The following members make up the supervisory board:
The members of the supervisory board do not belong to any other supervisory boards.
In the reporting period, the remuneration of the executive board members was as follows:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Kurt Bengel | ||
| Fixed remuneration | 244 | 245 |
| Performance-based remuneration | 138 | 125 |
| Long-term incentive | 126 | 127 |
| Matthias Schmidt | ||
| Fixed remuneration | 214 | 194 |
| Performance-based remuneration | 112 | 101 |
| Long-term incentive | 130 | 118 |
| Christian Pusch | ||
| Fixed remuneration | 0 | 141 |
| Performance-based remuneration | 0 | 73 |
| Post-employment benefits | 0 | 115 |
| Total | 964 | 1,239 |
The employment contracts of Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Bengel provide for compensation payments pursuant to Sec. 74 HGB for the term of a one-year ban on competition and full remuneration paid to the surviving dependants of deceased executive board members for a six-month period.
No further pension obligations or benefits were promised in the event of termination of service.
In accordance with Article 14 of the articles of incorporation and bylaws, the amounts paid to the supervisory board were as follows in 2014:
| in EUR k | 2014 | 2014 | 2013 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed remuneration |
Performance related remuneration |
Fixed remuneration |
Performance related remuneration |
|
| Andreas Schmidt | 30.0 | 0 | 30.0 | 0 |
| Hubert Leypoldt | 22.5 | 0 | 22.5 | 0 |
| Andreas Karrer | 15.0 | 0 | 15.0 | 0 |
| Total | 67.5 | 0 | 67.5 | 0 |
The D&O insurance was continued in 2014 for executive board members, supervisory board members as well as other executives. The premiums of EUR 23 k (prior year: EUR 23 k) were borne by the Company.
The executive board held 7,670 shares as of the balance sheet date (0.09%). The supervisory board members held 194,392 shares, i.e. 2.32% of the Company's capital stock.
On 16 January 2014, the Company received notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG ["Wertpapierhandelsgesetz": German Securities Trading Act] from PRODYNA AG:
PRODYNA AG, Eschborn, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, fell below the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 16 January 2014 and amounted to 4.18% on that date (corresponding to 350,000 voting rights).
In a letter dated 17 January 2014, PRODYNA AG announced that its share of voting rights in CENIT fell below the threshold of 3%:
PRODYNA AG, Eschborn, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, fell below the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 1.61% on that date (corresponding to 135,000 voting rights).
In a letter dated 17 January 2014, the Invesco Group announced that its share of voting rights in CENIT exceeded the threshold of 3%:
Invesco Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco Limited pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco Holding Company Limited, London, United Kingdom, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco Holding Company Limited pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
IVZ Incorporated, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to IVZ Incorporated pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco Group Services Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to IVZ Incorporated Invesco Group Services Inc. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
IVZ UK Limited, London, United Kingdom, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to IVZ UK Limited pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco Management Group Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco Management Group Inc. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco North American Holdings Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco North American Holdings Inc. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 in conjunction with Sentence 2 WpHG.
Invesco Advisers Incorporated, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 17 January 2014 and amounted to 5.27% on that date (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights). Of that figure, 5.27% of the voting rights (corresponding to 441,353 voting rights) are allocable to Invesco Advisers Incorporated pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 WpHG.
On 22 January 2014, the Company received notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG from Wallberg Invest S.A.:
Wallberg Invest S.A., Luxembourg, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% on 16 January 2014 and amounted to 3.51% on that date (293,939 voting rights).
FAS S.A., Luxembourg, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% on 16 January 2014 and amounted to 3.51% on that date (293,939 voting rights). Of that figure, 3% or more was allocated to it via Wallberg Invest S.A. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1) Sentence 1 No. 1 WpHG.
Mr. Marcel Ernzer, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that his share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% on 16 January 2014 and amounted to 3.51% on that date (293,939 voting rights). Of that figure, 3% or more was allocated to him via the companies Wallberg Invest S.A. and FAS S.A. pursuant to Sec. 22 (1) Sentence 1 No. 1 WpHG.
In a letter dated 20 May 2014, Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH announced that its share of voting rights in CENIT exceeded the threshold of 3%:
Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 15 May 2014 and amounted to 3.19% on that date (corresponding to 266,940 voting rights). 2.36% of the voting rights (corresponding to 197,857 voting rights) are allocable to the company pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 WpHG.
On 3 July 2014, the Company received notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG from Allianz Global Investors Europe:
Allianz Global Investors Europe GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 5% of voting rights on 1 July 2014 and amounted to 5.03% on that date (corresponding to 420,958 voting rights). 1.35% of the voting rights (corresponding to 113,250 voting rights) are allocable to the company pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 WpHG.
In a letter dated 12 August 2014, Axxion S.A. informed us that its share of voting rights in CENIT exceeded the threshold of 3%:
Axxion S.A., Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 12 August 2014 and amounted to 3.01% on that date (corresponding to 252,149 voting rights).
On 16 September 2014, the Company received further notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG from Axxion S.A.:
Axxion S.A., Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, fell below the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 15 September 2014 and amounted to 2.95% on that date (corresponding to 247,149 voting rights).
In a letter dated 13 October 2014, Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH announced that its share of voting rights in CENIT fell below the threshold of 3%:
Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, fell below the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 10 October 2014 and amounted to 2.95% on that date (corresponding to 246,957 voting rights). 2.33% of the voting rights (corresponding to 194,784 voting rights) are allocable to the company pursuant to Sec. 22 (1), Sentence 1, No. 6 WpHG.
On 22 December 2014, the Company received notification in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) WpHG from Axxion S.A.:
Axxion S.A., Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, informed us pursuant to Sec. 21 (1) WpHG that its share of voting rights in CENIT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, exceeded the threshold of 3% of voting rights on 22 December 2014 and amounted to 3.01% on that date (corresponding to 251,649 voting rights).
In compliance with Sec. 315a (1) HGB, the Company prepares consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
The management board and supervisory board of the Company have issued the declaration for 2014 required by Sec. 161 AktG and made it available on the Company's homepage (http://www.cenit.com/de_DE/investor-relations/corporategovernance.html).
Stuttgart, 27 February 2015
CENIT Aktiengesellschaft
The Management Board
Kurt Bengel Matthias Schmidt Spokesman, Management Board Member, Management Board
We have audited the annual financial statements, comprising the balance sheet, the income statement and the notes to the financial statements, together with the bookkeeping system, and the management report of the CENIT group and the company of CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart, for the business year from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. The maintenance of the books and records and the preparation of the annual financial statements and the management report of the CENIT group and the company in accordance with German commercial law and supplementary provisions of the articles of incorporation are the responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the annual financial statements, together with the bookkeeping system, and the management report of the CENIT group and the company based on our audit.
We conducted our audit of the annual financial statements in accordance with § 317 of the HGB ["Handelsgesetzbuch": "German Commercial Code"] and German generally accepted standards for the audit of financial statements promulgated by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer [Institute of Public Auditors in Germany] (IDW). 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 annual financial statements in accordance with German principles of proper accounting and in the management report of the CENIT group and the company are detected with reasonable assurance. Knowledge of the business activities and the economic and legal environment of the company 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 books and records, the annual financial statements and the management report of the CENIT group and the company are examined primarily on a test basis within the framework of the audit. The audit includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the annual financial statements and the management report of the CENIT group and the company. 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 annual financial statements comply with the legal requirements and supplementary provisions of the articles of incorporation and give a true and fair view of the net assets, financial position and results of operations of the company in accordance with German principles of proper accounting. The management report of the CENIT group and the company is consistent with the annual financial statements and as a whole provides a suitable view of the company's position and suitably presents the opportunities and risks of future development.
Stuttgart, March 5, 2015
BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
gez. Andreas Müller gez. Stefan Anderer Wirtschaftsprüfer Wirtschaftsprüfer
(German Public Auditor) (German Public Auditor)
(Financial Report)
After considering comments received, the German Accounting Standards Board (GASB) agreed at its 114th meeting on the following wording of the responsibility statement required by section 37y no. 1 of the Wertpapierhandelsgesetz (WpHG – German Securities Trading Act) in conjunction with sections 297(2) sentence 2 and 315(1) sentence 6 of the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB – German Commercial Code) for the financial statements:
"To the best of our knowledge, and in accordance with the applicable reporting principles, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the corporation, and the management report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the corporation, together with a
description of the principal opportunities and risks associated with the expected development of the corporation."
For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that if an entity is obliged to prepare an annual financial report in accordance with section 37v(1) and (2) of the WpHG, it must also comply with the requirements of sections 264(2) sentence 3 and 289(1) sentence 5 of the HGB (single-entity financial statements).
The Management Board
Kurt Bengel Matthias Schmidt Spokesman, Management Board Member, Management Board
| AMS | Abbreviation for Application Management Services |
|---|---|
| Application Management Services is a variant of outsourcing in which the license and infrastructure remain with user, while the service provider performs services such as development, implementation, support, or migration of the application. These services are provided on the basis of detailed Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Outtasking extends this definition to infrastructure- and/or application related tasks. |
|
| BI | Abbreviation for Business Intelligence |
| Business intelligence denotes procedures and processes aimed at a systematic analysis (collation, evaluation and presentation) of data electronic form. |
|
| BOA | Abbreviation for Business Optimization & Analytics |
| The objective of BOA is to provide simple and efficient means of acquiring information that enables an enterprise to make better strategic and operative decisions. From this information, constructive proposals for improved structures, control mechanisms as well as processes, systems and instruments can be derived. |
|
| CAD | Abbreviation for Computer-Aided Design |
| Software solutions for product design. | |
| CAE | Abbreviation for Computer-Aided Engineering |
| Software solutions for simulating the physical behavior of a future product. |
|
| CAM | Abbreviation for Computer-Aided Manufacturing |
| Software solutions for defining manufacturing processes. | |
| CATIA | PLM solution by Dassault Systèmes |
| With the aid of CATIA, users can manage the entire range of industrial design processes, from marketing and the original concept to product design, analysis and assembly, and finally to maintenance. |
|
| Collaborative workspace |
Networked working environment in which all parties involved in the product lifecycle (construction, marketing, sales, manufacturing, OEMs, suppliers, and customers) have access to the work in progress and can participate in construction. |
| CRM | Abbreviation for Customer Relationship Management |
| A business strategy which assists enterprises in managing customer relations. Thus a CRM database permits access to |
| individual customer data and allows enterprises to satisfy customer requirements via product plans and product offers, react to special service requirements, and obtain information on previous acquisitions by the customer. |
|
|---|---|
| DELMIA | PLM solution by Dassault Systèmes |
| DELMIA offers manufacturers the means to digitally plan, develop, monitor and control manufacturing and service processes. |
|
| Digital factory | Three-dimensional graphic simulation of a factory by way of digitally integrated systems (e.g. DELMIA) |
| Digital manufacturing | Planning and simulation of manufacturing processes via networking of digitally integrated systems (e.g. DELMIA). Developed for purposes of optimizing production costs, ergonomics, assembly line arrangement, productivity, and scheduling. |
| DMF | Abbreviation for Digital Manufacturing |
| DMU | Abbreviation for Digital Mock-Up |
| Virtual design and 3D simulation of a product and all of its component parts. The use of digital/virtual mock-ups eliminates the need for costly actual prototypes. |
|
| ECM | Abbreviation for Enterprise Content Management |
| ECM permits an enterprise to not only store all relevant information, but to also manage and reuse it. This reduces down-times and simultaneously increases the quality of products and services. |
|
| EIM | Abbreviation for Enterprise Information Management |
| EIM extends to all solutions and consulting services that generate structured and unstructured data, both within the enterprise and externally. EIM ensures high availability and security of data and optimizes the exchange of data between users. |
|
| EIM is a holistic data management concept that ensures a consistent, transparent and reliable information structure. |
|
| It encompasses all current and previous solutions and consulting services related to Enterprise Content Management, Groupware, Infrastructure Management und Application Management Outsourcing, Systems Management, Hotline Service, and remote maintenance of hard- and software. |
|
| ENOVIA | PLM solution portfolio by Dassault Systèmes |
| ENOVIA supports cooperative enterprise-wide product development – in the true sense of holistic product lifecycle management (PLM). |
ERP Abbreviation for Enterprise Resource Planning
A business strategy which supports enterprises in managing their core business fields: acquisitions, inventory, suppliers, customer service, and order tracking. ERP can also be used in financial and staff administration. An ERP system is usually based on a series of software modules linked to a relational database.
Control of machinery or processes via numerical control commands.
PDM Abbreviation for Product Data Management
A concept developed to store and manage product-defining and product presentation data and documents generated during product development, and to make these available in later phases of the product lifecycle.
PLM Abbreviation for Product Lifecycle Management
A business strategy which assists enterprises in exchanging product data, applying uniform processes, and making use of the enterprise's product development knowledge, from initial concept to final redundancy, across the entire expanded enterprise. Thanks to the integration of all involved parties (enterprise divisions, business partners, suppliers, OEMs and customers), PLM offers the entire network the means to operate as a single entity and to jointly conceive, develop, build and service products.
SCM Abbreviation for Supply Chain Management
A business strategy which assists enterprises in coordinating the flow of commodities, information and funds between the individual enterprises in a value chain.
SLA Abbreviation for Service Level Agreement
SLAs define the qualitative and quantitative customer-
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