Assets and leases

12. Intangible assets

Intangible assets include not only acquired and internally generated intangible assets but also goodwill arising from company acquisitions.

Goodwill represents the excess of the acquisition costs from company acquisitions over the fair value of the Group’s interests in the net assets of the acquired companies at the acquisition date. The goodwill recognized is subject to annual impairment testing and measured at its cost less any accumulated impairment. Reversals are not permitted. Gains and losses on the disposal of a company include the carrying amount of the goodwill, which is attributed to the company being deconsolidated.

Acquired intangible assets are capitalized at cost; internally generated intangible assets from which the Group expects to derive future benefit and which can be measured reliably are capitalized at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Costs in this context include all direct production costs as well as an appropriate share of production overheads. Financing costs are capitalized if they are attributable to qualifying assets.

The straight-line pro rata temporis method is the sole method used for depreciation and amortization, which is presented in the statement of profit or loss in the item “Depreciation, amortization and impairment of non-current intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets from leases”. This is based on the following standard useful lives:

No financing costs were capitalized for qualifying assets.

The intangible assets include such assets for which there is an operating lease. These developed as follows:

Impairment

Overview

All non-financial assets of the Group, with the exception of inventories and deferred tax assets, are tested at the end of the reporting period for indications of possible impairment within the meaning of IAS 36. If such indications are identified, the expected recoverable amount is estimated and compared with the carrying amount.

If there are indications of impairment and if the recoverable amount is less than the amortized cost, impairment is recognized on the intangible assets. If it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount for an individual asset, the assets are combined to form cash-generating units.

In addition, the recoverable amounts for goodwill, assets with an indefinite useful life and intangible assets not yet completed are estimated at the end of each reporting period regardless of whether there are any indications of impairment.

In accordance with IAS 36, impairment is recognized through profit or loss if the carrying amount of an asset or the related cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount.

If a requirement to recognize a loss allowance is determined for a cash-generating unit, the goodwill of the cash-generating unit in question is first reduced. If a further adjustment of the loss allowance is required, it is uniformly distributed over the carrying amounts of the other assets of the cash-generating unit.

Impairment is recognized in the item “Depreciation, amortization and impairment of non-current intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets from leases”.

Determination of the recoverable amount

The expected recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s net realizable value less costs to sell and its value in use. Value in use is the present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from the asset or cash-generating unit. The calculations are made in euros on the basis of three-year planning, taking country-specific risks into account. Foreign currencies are translated using forward rates. The Group’s weighted average cost of capital of 6.56 percent (previous year: 6.37 percent) is used as the discount rate, which is adjusted to the country-specific tax rate. The weighted average cost of capital is determined by the debt and equity interests, the risk-free base rate taking inflation into account (0.17 percent, previous year: -0.23 percent), the market risk premium (7.0 percent, previous year: 7.0 percent), the sector-specific risk, the country-specific tax rate and borrowing costs.

The recoverable amounts of cash-generating units are determined based on value-in-use calculations. The tested goodwill and the assumptions underlying the calculations are shown in the following table:

For BLG AutoRail GmbH, Bremen, the recoverable amount based on the assumptions listed in the above table significantly exceeded the carrying amount of the cash-generating unit. Planning takes into account the utilization of railroad cars based on historical data from previous years as well as the conversion of ad hoc transport to portfolio transport. Even with a substantial reduction in the assumptions for revenue growth and other parameters or an increase in the discount rate by one percentage point, the recoverable amount would be above the carrying amount. The revenue expectations on which the planning in the AUTOMOBILE Division were based were derived from market forecasts for new car registrations, previous market shares and customer surveys.

The goodwill of the cash-generating unit BLG St. Petersburg was impaired in previous years, with EUR 2,796,000 written down on a carrying amount of EUR 797,000. If EBIT declined by 50 percent, there would currently be no further write-down requirement. An increase in the discount rate by one percentage point would not lead to any further need for write-downs. As a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine and the current sanctions, it is possible that we may have to temporarily or permanently suspend our business at sites in this region or that we will lose access to them. It is therefore possible that the goodwill of BLG Logistics Automobile St. Petersburg Co. Ltd., St. Petersburg/Russia, may have to be written down.

The purchase price allocation from the acquisition of shares in BLG Sports & Fashion Logistics GmbH, Hörsel, gave rise to goodwill of EUR 11,794,000. In previous years, full goodwill impairment totaling EUR 11,794,000 was recognized. Of this amount, EUR 10,794,000 was attributable to the 2020 financial year.

Furthermore, the goodwill of CGU Spedition in the amount of EUR 8,754,000 was written down in full in the 2020 financial year.

Reversals of impairment losses

If the reasons for the impairment cease to exist, it must be reversed. The reversal is limited to the amortized cost that would have resulted without the impairment.

If the write-downs were distributed evenly across the assets of a cash-generating unit, the same procedure is used for the reversals.

Reversals of impairment on goodwill are not permitted.

13. Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are accounted for at cost less depreciation based on use. Production costs include both direct costs and an appropriate share of attributable production overheads. Borrowing costs are recognized in production costs, insofar as they relate to qualifying assets. In accordance with IAS 16, demolition obligations are accounted for at present value as incidental acquisition costs. Expected residual values are usually not taken into account in determining depreciation.

The remeasurement method is not used at BLG LOGISTICS.

If the conditions of IAS 16 for the application of the component approach are met, the assets are broken down into their components, which are capitalized individually and depreciated over their useful lives.

Asset-related government grants are deferred and amortized over the useful life of the subsidized asset using the straight-line method. Please refer to note 25.

The straight-line pro rata temporis method is the sole method used for depreciation and amortization, which is presented in the statement of profit or loss in the item “Depreciation, amortization and impairment of non-current intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets from leases.” This is based on the following standard useful lives:

If there are indications of impairment and if the recoverable amount is less than the amortized cost, the property, plant and equipment are impaired (see also note 12 under “Impairment”).

Impairment is recognized in the item “Depreciation, amortization and impairment of non-current intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets from leases”. Apart from depreciation and amortization, no significant write-downs were recognized in the 2021 financial year.

Advance payments and assets under construction of EUR 28,894,000 (previous year: EUR 7,758,000) related exclusively to assets under construction.

Financing costs of EUR 412,000 (previous year: EUR 0,000) were capitalized for qualifying assets.

The right-of-use assets from rental agreements and leases included in property, plant and equipment are presented in note 14.

There are no other assets reported under property, plant and equipment that have been pledged as collateral for non-current loans. Right-of-use assets capitalized in accordance with IFRS 16 are not assigned as collateral, as legal ownership remains with the lessor.

The assets included in property, plant and equipment for which there is an operating lease developed as follows:

14. Leases

BLG as lessee

Leases

BLG LOGISTICS’ leases primarily cover land, buildings and wharfs. They relate mainly to heritable building rights in the ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven and have remaining terms of up to 27 years. The Group thus secures long-term rights of use to the land required for operations. In addition there are mainly leases for railroad cars, industrial trucks, conveyor systems, HGVs, passenger cars and tractor trucks, which have terms of mainly between three and ten years.

A number of property leases contain extension or termination options. All facts and circumstances that offer an economic incentive to exercise extension options or not to exercise termination options are taken into account when determining the term of leases. Changes in the term of a lease as a result of exercising or not exercising options are taken into account only when they are reasonably certain. As extension or termination options are often agreed in line with corresponding clauses in contracts with customers, the exercise of these options is reviewed in parallel with the contract negotiations with customers. At the same time, potential future cash outflows that are not currently included in the lease liabilities are offset by a similar amount of potential future cash inflows from contracts with customers. The modified lease payments are to be discounted at the interest rate on the date of the lease modification.

In addition, the heritable building right contracts in particular provide for an adjustment of the ground rent on the basis of the consumer price index every five years. The lease payments are stated at the index level applicable at the respective measurement date. The last adjustment was made in the reporting year and constituted the increase scheduled for the January 1, 2020 that was deferred to support Bremen’s port and logistics industry in connection with the coronavirus crisis in 2020. These are index-based variable payments, which are accounted for from the date the adjustment of the lease payments takes effect, using an unchanged discount rate.

In most of the leases for railroad cars, the Group has granted residual value guarantees in light of the uncertainties regarding future sales proceeds and the lessors’ requirement that BLG LOGISTICS participate in the risks. Only the amounts that are expected to be paid are included in the lease payments. Estimates are based on the expected residual values of the railroad cars at the end of the lease term. They are regularly reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted using an unchanged discount rate. Residual value guarantees of no more than EUR 11.8 million (previous year: EUR 17.8 million) (undiscounted) are not expected to result in payments, so no amounts for residual value guarantees were included in the lease liabilities as of December 31, 2021. There are also a small number of options to purchase railroad cars at fair value.

Recognition and measurement

BLG LOGISTICS as a lessee recognizes assets for the right to use the leased assets and liabilities for the payment obligations entered into. They are recognized at the date from which the underlying asset is available for the Group’s use.

IFRS 16 is not applied to leases for intangible assets. BLG LOGISTICS exercises the option for short-term leases and leases of low-value assets and recognizes payments for these leases on a straight-line basis as expenses in the statement of profit or loss. In the case of contracts that contain other components besides lease components, these components are not separated.

The right-of-use assets are measured at cost, comprising the present value of the outstanding lease payments and lease payments made to the lessor on or before commencement of the lease less lease incentives received, initial direct costs and, if applicable, the estimated costs to dismantle the underlying assets.

Subsequently, the right-of-use assets are depreciated over the shorter of the term of the lease and the useful life in line with the rules for comparable own assets and, if necessary, impaired (see also note 12 under “Impairment”).

These are grouped with acquired assets for reporting purposes, taking into account the asset class.

The lease liabilities are measured at the present value of the outstanding lease payments. They are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease, if that rate can be determined. Alternatively, they are discounted at the incremental borrowing rate.

The lease payments include fixed lease payments, less lease incentives to be received from the lessor, variable lease payments linked to an index or interest rate, expected payments resulting from residual value guarantees, the exercise price of a purchase option if the exercise is reasonably certain, and penalties payable if termination options are exercised, if their exercise is reasonably certain.

After initial recognition, the lease liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. Interest cost is therefore computed for lease liabilities on the basis of an amount resulting in a constant periodic discount rate for the remaining liabilities. This corresponds to the discount rate determined at the commencement date of the lease, unless a reassessment requires a change in the discount rate. This is the case if changes in the estimate regarding exercise or non-exercise of purchase, extension or termination options arise or changes to the scope, amount of contractual payments or the term of the lease are agreed. Remeasurements using an unchanged discount rate must be made in the event of changes in variable payments linked to an index or interest rate or changes in the estimate of the payments expected to be made under residual value guarantees. Amounts from a remeasurement of the lease liability are recognized at the same time as an adjustment to the right-of-use asset. If the value of the right to use the leased asset is reduced to zero, the remaining adjustment amount is to be recognized in the statement of profit or loss. Lease payments made less the interest expenses included therein reduce the carrying amount of the lease liabilities.

Right-of-use assets

The following table shows the separate carrying amounts for rights to use leased assets that are included in property, plant and equipment.

The additions to right-of-use assets in the 2021 financial year amounted to EUR 51,360,000 (previous year: EUR 37,869,000).

The corresponding lease liabilities are recognized under financial liabilities. Please refer to note 24.

Statement of profit or loss

The following amounts were recognized in the statement of profit or loss in connection with leases in which BLG LOGISTICS is the lessee.

Total payments for leases in the financial year amounted to EUR 97,923,000 (previous year: EUR 88,183,000).

In addition to the above amounts, in the previous year adjustments to the lease liabilities of EUR 121,000 arising from the deferral of payments relating to heritable building right contracts and quay utilization contracts were recognized in interest income in the corresponding amount. There were no such effects in the reporting year.

BLG as lessor

Leases

The Group has subleases for land, buildings, wharfs and operating equipment. The terms of these subleases in the main correspond with those of the head leases. In addition, BLG LOGISTICS is in some cases lessor under customer contracts.

The subleases largely relate to the rights and obligations, transferred under usage transfer agreements, arising from the heritable building rights of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (municipality) for properties necessary for the business of the EUROGATE Group. Further information is given in note 15 under “Joint ventures”.

Recognition and measurement

As lessor, BLG LOGISTICS classifies leases at commencement as an operating lease or a finance lease.

If the lease transfers in substance all the risks and rewards of ownership, the lease is a finance lease. If this is not the case, the lease is an operating lease.

As intermediate lessor, the Group recognizes the head lease and the sublease separately. If the head lease is a short-term lease for which the recognition option is exercised, the sublease must be classified as an operating lease. In all other cases, the sublease is classified on the basis of the right-of-use asset from the head lease instead of the underlying asset.

In the case of operating leases, the lease payments received are recognized through profit or loss in revenue or other operating income, depending on the items to which they relate.

In the case of finance leases, the leased asset or right-of-use asset from the head lease is derecognized, and a lease receivable is recognized in the amount of the net investment in the lease. Interest income is recognized over the term of the leases in the amount that results in a constant periodic rate of return on the remaining lease receivables. After initial recognition, the lease receivables are reduced by the lease payments received less the interest income included therein. Loss allowances for lease receivables reported in net profit or loss are recognized on the basis of expected credit losses according to the general approach. Please also refer to note 16.

Lease receivables

In the table below, the undiscounted future lease payments from finance leases are presented by due date and reconciled with the recognized lease receivables.

Statement of profit or loss

The following amounts were recognized in the statement of profit or loss in connection with leases in which BLG LOGISTICS is the lessor.

In the table below, the undiscounted future lease payments from operating leases are presented by due date.

15. Equity investments in companies accounted for using the equity method

Investments in associates and joint ventures are generally measured using the equity method of accounting. Starting with the cost at the time of the acquisition of the shares, the carrying amount of the investment is increased or decreased by the profit or loss, the changes in other comprehensive income and the other changes in equity of the companies to the extent these are attributable to the shares held by BLG LOGISTICS. In the case of proportionate losses that exceed the carrying amount of an investment accounted for using the equity method, they are also offset through profit or loss against non-current loans or receivables attributable to the net investment in the investee. After the application of the equity method, testing must also be carried out to determine whether there are any indications of impairment of the net investment in the investee.

Joint ventures

The change in the carrying amount of the investments in joint ventures was primarily the result of increases due to proportionate net income for the financial year (EUR 61,714,000, previous year: reductions EUR -62,775,000), changes in other reserves due to the remeasurement of pensions (EUR 879,000, previous year: EUR 565,000), the fair value measurement of financial instruments (EUR 145,000, previous year: EUR 107,000), currency translation differences (EUR 1,480,000, previous year: EUR -2,928,000) and other changes (EUR -50,000, previous year: EUR 2,023,000), as well as reductions due to distributions (EUR -499,000, previous year: EUR -536,000). The previous year’s carrying amount also included capital contributions of EUR 3,768,000. As in the previous year, there were no changes in the group of consolidated companies in the reporting year.

Information about the significant joint venture is presented below.

EUROGATE GmbH & Co. KGaA, KG, Bremen, is a joint venture of BLG KG and EUROKAI GmbH & Co. KGaA, Hamburg, which is structured as an independent entity. BLG KG’s interest in the joint venture and its equity investments is 50 percent (previous year: 50 percent) and represents the CONTAINER Division. With this investment, the Group receives rights to the joint venture’s net assets rather than rights to its assets and obligations arising from its liabilities.

The IFRS subgroup financial statements of the EUROGATE Group are consolidated using the equity method. EUROGATE GmbH & Co. KGaA, KG and its subsidiaries are accordingly included in the list of shareholdings under the item “Companies accounted for using the equity method”. No market price is available for EUROGATE GmbH & Co. KGaA, KG.

The services of the CONTAINER Division are described in note 2.

For the properties necessary for its business, BLG KG has transferred to the EUROGATE Group under usage transfer agreements the rights and obligations arising from the heritable building rights of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (municipality).

In the usage transfer agreements, BLG KG undertakes to pay compensation to the EUROGATE Group for buildings erected on the properties used at the expiration of the usage transfer agreement or upon extraordinary termination. The compensation is based on the market value of the buildings. In addition, BLG KG irrevocably surrenders its claims for compensation to the EUROGATE Group upon exercise of the right to reversion under the heritable building right contract by the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (municipality).

The EUROGATE Group provides technical services for BLG LOGISTICS and pays for electricity used. This is based on the takeover of the electricity supply network in the Bremen seaport in Bremerhaven by “Sondervermögen Hafen” effective January 1, 2008.

In Segment reporting and note 3, this joint venture is represented by the CONTAINER Division.

The following table summarizes the financial information of the IFRS subgroup financial statements of EUROGATE GmbH & Co. KGaA, KG and reconciles this information with the carrying amounts of the investments in joint ventures.

Current assets included cash and cash equivalents of EUR 327,523,000 (previous year: EUR 142,719,000).

EUR 650,411,000 (previous year: EUR 663,712,000) of the non-current liabilities and EUR 155,314,000 (previous year: EUR 108,272,000) of the current liabilities were attributable to financial liabilities (in each case excluding trade payables, other liabilities and provisions). The financial liabilities resulted with EUR 356,775,000 (previous year: EUR 368,358,000) from non-current and with EUR 22,240,000 (previous year: EUR 22,438,000) from current lease liabilities.

EUR 61,879,000 of the net profit for the year (previous year: EUR -60,740,000) and EUR 2,269,000 of other comprehensive income, net of income taxes (previous year: EUR -1,674,000), was attributable to BLG LOGISTICS.

As in the previous year, BLG LOGISTICS received no dividends from EUROGATE GmbH & Co. KGaA, KG in the reporting year.

The individual remaining investments in joint ventures held by BLG LOGISTICS are considered immaterial. The following table summarizes the carrying amounts, the interest in the net profit (loss) for the year and the interest in the other comprehensive income of these equity investments:

The proportionate net income for the year results in full from continuing operations.

In the 2021 financial year, negative interests of EUR 218,000 (previous year: EUR 1,504,000) and positive interests of EUR 125,000 (previous year: EUR 0,000) in the total comprehensive income of joint ventures were not included in the Group result as the equity-method carrying amount had already been adjusted to zero as a result of losses in prior periods. At the reporting date, the cumulative negative interests in the total comprehensive income of joint ventures not recognized in the Group result totaled EUR 3,648,000 (previous year: EUR 3,440,000).

Associates

The change in the carrying amount of the investments in associates was primarily the result of increases due to proportionate net income for the financial year (EUR 588,000, previous year: EUR 1,069,000), changes in other reserves due to the remeasurement of pensions (EUR -5,000, previous year: EUR -42,000), as well as reductions due to distributions (EUR -584,000, previous year: EUR -677,000) and currency translation differences (EUR 19,000, previous year: EUR -97,000). The previous year’s carrying amount also included other changes of EUR 13,000. As in the previous year, there were no changes in the group of consolidated companies in the reporting year.

The investments in associates held by BLG LOGISTICS are individually immaterial.

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts, the interest in the net profit (loss) for the year attributable to BLG LOGISTICS and the interest in the other comprehensive income of these equity investments:

The proportionate net income for the year results in full from continuing operations.

In the 2021 financial year, negative interests of EUR 12,000 (previous year: EUR 12,000) in the total comprehensive income of associates were not included in the Group result. At the reporting date, the cumulative negative interests in the total comprehensive income of joint ventures not recognized in the Group result totaled EUR 215,000 (previous year: EUR 203,000).

16. Finance receivables

Please refer to note 14 for information on the measurement of lease receivables.

The finance receivables from shareholder accounts in companies accounted for using the equity method relate to profit shares from partnerships classified as debt instruments. As the profit shares are not capital repayments but capital returns, they are measured at fair value through profit or loss.

The other finance receivables of BLG LOGISTICS comprise finance receivables and claims under equity instruments from companies accounted for using the equity method, shareholders and third parties, for which the payments are solely payments of principal and interest and which are held to generate contractual cash flows. They are therefore measured at amortized cost. Interest income is recognized pro rata temporis in the statement of profit or loss, taking the effective interest return into account. Foreign exchange differences and gains and losses on derecognition are likewise recognized through profit or loss.

Loss allowances for finance receivables reported in profit or loss are recognized on the basis of expected credit losses according to the general approach. According to this approach, a loss allowance is recognized for financial assets whose credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition in the amount of the credit losses expected to occur within the next 12 months.

For financial assets for which credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition, a loss allowance must be recognized in the amount of the lifetime expected credit losses.

Qualitative and quantitative indicators are taken into account when determining whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition. These include historical data, the agreement of forbearance measures and contractual payments that are more than 30 days past due. If financial assets are more than 90 days past due, they are classified as impaired. Loss allowances are recognized if a formal dunning process has been initiated or knowledge has been obtained about the insolvency of a customer.

Financial assets are generally derecognized when BLG LOGISTICS loses control of the underlying rights wholly or in part by selling or discharging them or transferring them to a third party in a manner that qualifies for derecognition. A transfer to a third party qualifies for derecognition when the contractual rights to the cash flows from assets are surrendered, no arrangements for the retention of individual cash flows exist, all the risks and rewards are transferred to the third party and BLG LOGISTICS no longer has control over the assets.

The lease receivables in the previous year included EUR 5,817,000 of receivables for payments of ground rent deferred in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, which were repaid in the reporting year.

Loans to companies accounted for using the equity method are made at interest rates of between 2 and 6 percent (previous year: between 3 and 6 percent).

Due to their fixed interest rates, the loans are subject to an interest rate-linked market price risk; this is not significant for BLG LOGISTICS considering the amount and maturity of receivables.

The maximum exposure to credit risk corresponds to the carrying amount; there are no indications of significant concentrations of credit risk.

The credit risk and the expected credit losses for finance receivables measured at amortized cost were as follows as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

Loss allowances for finance receivables developed as follows:

17. Inventories

The inventories line item comprises raw materials, consumables and supplies, work in progress and finished goods and merchandise. Initial recognition is at acquisition cost, determined on the basis of average prices, or at production cost. Production cost includes all direct production costs as well as appropriate portions of production overheads and is determined on the basis of normal capacity utilization. Financing costs are not taken into account.

The measurement at the end of the reporting period is at the lower of cost or net realizable value less costs due and, where appropriate, other incurred costs of completion. The net realizable value of the final product is generally taken as a basis.

Inventories are not pledged as collateral for liabilities. Loss allowances of EUR 229,000 (previous year: EUR 185,000) were recognized on inventories as of December 31, 2021. The inventories recognized as expenses in the reporting year amounted to EUR 71,483,000 (previous year: EUR 70,075,000).

18. Trade receivables, other assets and assets held for sale

Trade receivables

Trade receivables are recognized from the settlement date and held in order to generate contractual cash flows. They are therefore measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

Loss allowances reported in net profit or loss are recognized on the basis of expected credit losses using the simplified approach. According to this approach, the amount of the loss allowance is to be determined on the basis of the lifetime expected credit losses. Changes in credit risk do not have to be tracked. Loss allowances are reported net in the statement of profit or loss.

At BLG LOGISTICS the expected credit losses are calculated on the basis of the historical credit loss rates of the last five years according to past-due time bands, adjusted for management estimates regarding the future development of the economic environment, especially estimates of the credit rating of major customers and general economic conditions.

Trade receivables are derecognized upon realization (expiration) or transfer of the receivables to a third party. In addition, trade receivables are derecognized if the inflow of cash is unlikely.

Trade receivables are non-interest bearing, payable within one year and are not to be used as collateral for liabilities. The average credit term is 61 days (previous year: 72 days). The maximum exposure to credit risk corresponds to the carrying amount; there are no indications of significant concentrations of credit risk.

The credit risk and the expected credit losses for trade receivables were as follows as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

Loss allowances for trade receivables developed as follows:

In the reporting year, there were also derecognitions of trade receivables of EUR 205,000 (previous year: EUR 213,000), which are reported in the net gains/losses from impairment.

Other financial and non-financial assets

Other assets mainly comprise contract assets. Other financial assets include financial investments, derivative financial instruments (see note 32), and, where appropriate, securities classified as current assets. Other financial assets are recognized at the settlement date. BLG LOGISTICS only holds very small amounts of securities held as current assets.

Financial investments include investments in affiliated companies and other long-term equity investments. These are long-term investments that are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income as equity instruments, exercising the option provided by IFRS 9. Even when the equity instruments are disposed of, gains and losses from the measurement of the equity investments are not reclassified to profit or loss but to retained earnings. Dividends are recognized through profit or loss, unless they are capital repayments.

The measurement of equity investments at fair value required by IFRS 9 is only forgone if the equity investments are immaterial and there is no active market for the measurement of fair value.

The Group’s accounting policies for contract assets are presented in note 4.

Miscellaneous other financial and non-financial assets are stated at their nominal values. Other financial and non-financial assets are non-interest bearing and are not used as collateral for liabilities.

Investments in affiliated companies

Investments in affiliated companies mainly comprise the non-consolidated general partner companies of the fully consolidated operational limited partnerships.

Other equity investments

Other equity investments include companies with dormant or only limited operations in which BLG AG or BLG KG is directly or indirectly entitled to at least 20 percent of the voting rights and which are of only minor importance for giving a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance and cash flows of BLG LOGISTICS.

Current assets classified as held for sale

Under an agreement dated February 23, 2021, BLG Handelslogistik GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen, sold all of its shares in BLG Logistics Solutions Italia S.r.l. with effect from the same date. The background behind this decision was that in Europe BLG wishes to have a more strategic focus on Germany. Consequently, the assets of EUR 3,403,000 and liabilities of EUR 3,812,000 were classified in the financial statements as of December 31, 2020 as held for sale. The assets and liabilities were allocated in full to the CONTRACT Division and were derecognized in the reporting year in the context of the deconsolidation of BLG Logistics Solutions Italia S.r.l.

19. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are subject to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9. No impairment was recognized, as the cash and cash equivalents are primarily held with banks in the European Union and mainly in euros and the requirements have no material effect. As there have been no bad debts in the past and there are no identifiable indicators of future bad debts, they are recognized at nominal value.

Bank balances earn interest at floating rates for demand deposits. Short-term deposits are made for periods varying between one day and one month, depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group. They earn interest at the current short-term deposit interest rate.