Management system

Core key performance indicators

The KION Group’s strategy, which centres on value and growth, is reflected in how the Company is managed. It uses four core key performance indicators (KPIs) to continuously monitor market success, profitability, financial strength and liquidity. The performance targets of the Group and the segments are based on selected financial KPIs, as is the performance-based remuneration paid to managers. Each month, the KPIs are measured and made available to the Executive Board in a comprehensive report. This enables the management team to take prompt corrective action in the event of variances compared with target figures. > TABLE 013

Key performance indicators

013

in € million

Order intake

Revenue

Adjusted EBIT1

Free cash flow2

*

Key figures for 2012 were adjusted due to the retrospective application of IAS 19R (2011); Order intake, Revenue and Adjusted EBIT were aligned due to the sale of the Hydraulics Business

1

Adjusted for KION acquisition items and one-off items

2

Last year's figures were adjusted due to a change in presentation, for details see ‘Other disclosures on Consolidated statement of cash flows’

2014

4,877.3

4,677.9

442.9

305.9

2013

4,489.1

4,494.6

416.5

195.6

2012*

4,590.3

4,559.8

408.3

513.6

KPIs related to business volume

Order intake and revenue

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

Earnings-related KPI

Adjusted EBIT

The key figure used for operational management and analysis of the KION Group’s financial performance is adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT). It is calculated in the same way as EBIT, except that it does not take account of the KION Group purchase price allocation or any non-recurring items.

Liquidity-related KPI

Free cash flow

Free cash flow is the main KPI for managing leverage and liquidity. It is determined by the KION Group’s operating activities and investing activities. Free cash flow does not include interest arising from financing activities. Carefully targeted management of working capital and detailed planning of capital expenditure are used to help in controlling the level of free cash flow.

Other key performance indicators

Besides the aforementioned core KPIs, the KION Group uses a wealth of additional financial KPIs. The main ones are net debt, which is used to manage the capital structure, as well as the EBIT margin and return on capital employed (ROCE), which form the basis for a component of remuneration and are defined as targets in the Strategy 2020. There are also non-financial KPIs, which primarily relate to customers, employees, sustainability and technology. Some of them are used operationally as leading indicators for the financial KPIs.

The KPIs used to manage the brand segments are order intake, revenue and adjusted EBIT. Earnings before tax (EBT) and return on equity (ROE) are the KPIs used to manage the Financial Services segment.