32. Financial Instruments

Classification of financial assets and financial liabilities

Financial assets are classified on the basis of the entity’s business model for its management and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the assets.

The measurement of debt instruments at amortized cost is only permitted if a financial asset is held in a business model, the objective of which is to generate contractual cash flows from the asset and the contractual arrangements provide fixed dates for the payments. In addition, these payments must be solely payments of principal and interest.

If some of these criteria are not met, the measurement must be at fair value. There is an irrevocable option to measure equity instruments not held for trading at fair value through other comprehensive income. In this case, all changes in value, with the exception of dividends, must be presented in other comprehensive income without the option of reclassification to profit or loss.

Carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments by class, line item in the statement of financial position and measurement category under IFRS 9

In the tables shown on the following pages, the financial instruments are listed according to the above criteria, including the indication of their level in the fair value hierarchy. The measurement categories are described in notes 16 and 18 and under “Derivative financial instruments”.

Classification to the levels of the fair value hierarchy takes place on the basis of the measurement methods used and is described in note 1 under “Determination of fair values”.

Carrying amounts of financial instruments classified by line item in the statement of financial position, class and category

The non-current financial assets include equity instruments of EUR 389 thousand (previous year: EUR 527 thousand), for which BLG LOGISTICS has exercised the option to recognize changes in fair value through other comprehensive income. These refer to immaterial investments in corporations for which there is no active market and the market value of which cannot be determined reliably using measurement methods.

Cost is therefore the best estimate of fair value.

In the reporting year, the shares in these corporations were reduced by EUR 105 thousand due to the first-time full consolidation of BLG Automobile Logistics Beteiligungs-GmbH, Bremen. In addition, the shares in BLG Freight, LLC, Hoover, USA, were derecognized in the course of the liquidation of the company and the shares in IGLU Air Cargo GmbH, Mörfelden-Walldorf, were sold at their carrying amount. No further derecognitions or disposals have taken place. There are no plans to sell or derecognize parts of the reported equity investments in the near future.

The current financial receivables relate to profit shares from partnerships classified as debt instruments. As the profit shares are not capital repayments but capital returns, they were measured at fair value through profit or loss.

With the exception of non-current bank loans and other financial loans, there were no material differences between the carrying amounts and fair values of the financial instruments. In principle, the carrying amounts of trade receivables, current financial receivables, miscellaneous other financial receivables and cash and cash equivalents corresponded to their fair values on account of their short-term nature. Investments in affiliated companies and current financial receivables from shareholder accounts were already measured at fair value, resulting in no deviation from the carrying amount. The carrying amounts of trade payables, current financial liabilities and other current financial liabilities essentially corresponded to their fair values on account of their short- term nature.

The following material methods and assumptions were used to determine the level 3 fair values:

The market values were determined using the discounted cash flow method on the basis of the expected future cash flows and current interest rates for comparable financing arrangements that are either directly or indirectly observable on the market.

The yield curve of risk-free German government bonds plus a company-specific, matched-term risk premium was applied as the market interest rate. The risk premium over the average maturity was taken into account for installment payment arrangements.

The level 2 fair values of derivative financial instruments were based on external fair value measurements. The variable cash flows were determined using the forward rates of the benchmark rates used for the hedging instruments. The credit spread is not part of the hedging relationship.

The financial receivables measured at fair value in level 3 relate to the recognition of profit shares of partnerships (see note 16). As a result, a separate measurement method was not applied as the recognition is derived from the respective financial statements and ownership interests in the partnerships.

The receivables developed as follows:

Movements between the different levels of the fair value hierarchy are recognized at the end of the reporting period, in which they occur. In the reporting year, no movements occurred.

Net earnings by measurement category

The following net earnings were attributable to the measurement categories of the financial instruments:

Objectives and methods of financial risk management

The principal financial instruments used to finance the Group include non-current loans, current borrowings, lease liabilities, other borrowings, factoring and cash, including short-term deposits with banks. The primary objective behind these financial instruments is to finance the operations of BLG LOGISTICS. BLG LOGISTICS has access to a range of other financial instruments, such as trade receivables and payables, that arise directly as part of its operations.

Financial risk management is the responsibility of the Treasury department, whose tasks and objectives are described in guidelines adopted by the Board of Management. The central task besides managing liquidity and arranging financing is minimizing financial risks at Group level. This includes preparing and analyzing financing and hedging strategies and contracting hedging instruments.

Material risks arising for the Group from financial instruments are presented below and consist of credit risks, foreign currency risks, liquidity risks and interest rate risks. The Board of Management has adopted a risk management guideline aimed at identifying and monitoring risks from an early stage. At Group level, the current market price risk for all financial instruments is also monitored.

Hedge accounting is applied if derivative financial instruments are used as hedging instruments and the requirements for hedge accounting in accordance with IFRS 9 are met. The objective is to reduce inconsistencies in recognition or measurement arising from gains or losses from a hedging instrument not being credited or charged to the same account in the financial statements as the gains or losses from the hedged risk, for instance. The Group’s accounting policies for derivatives and other disclosures on hedge accounting are presented under “Derivative financial instruments”.

Credit risk

The Group’s credit risk mainly results from trade receivables and lease receivables. The amounts disclosed in the combined statement of financial position do not include allowance accounts for expected credit losses. Owing to the ongoing monitoring of receivables at management level and the use of commercial credit insurance depending on customer creditworthiness, BLG LOGISTICS is not currently exposed to any significant credit risk. Disclosures related to credit risk and expected credit losses from trade receivables and lease receivables can be found in notes 16 and 18.

The credit risk is limited with regard to cash and derivative financial instruments as these instruments are currently held exclusively at banks that have been awarded high credit ratings by international rating agencies, which are highly secure thanks to a joint liability scheme, and/or at which there are offsetting opportunities through non-current loans.

The maximum credit risk of the Group is represented by the carrying amounts of the financial assets recognized in the statement of financial position (including derivative financial instruments with positive market value). The Group is also exposed to a liability risk through the assumption of financial guarantees which, as of the reporting date, was limited to a maximum of EUR 150 thousand (previous year: EUR 29 thousand). At the reporting date, there were no significant credit risk mitigation agreements or hedges.

There are no significant concentrations of credit risk in the Group.

Impairment of financial instruments

At BLG LOGISTICS, the impairment requirements apply to financial assets measured at amortized cost, lease receivables and contract assets. They are reported under net gains/losses from impairment. This item also includes impairment of equity instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss. In these cases, the impairment is the difference between cost and fair value of the equity instrument in question.

Foreign currency risk

With very few exceptions, the Group companies operate in the eurozone and invoice only in euros. As a result, currency risk could only arise in isolated cases, such as in relation to foreign dividend income or the purchase of goods and services from abroad. An interest rate and currency swap has been concluded to hedge against the foreign currency risk from a variable USD loan granted in the context of Group financing. Further information is presented under “Derivative financial instruments”.

As of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no significant currency risks in the Group.

Capital risk management

An important capital management objective for BLG LOGISTICS is to ensure the ability of the company to continue as a going concern in order to provide income to shareholders and to provide other stakeholders with the benefits to which they are entitled. Additional objectives include optimizing liquidity security and maintaining an optimum capital structure over the long term to bring down the costs of capital in general and the refinancing risk in particular.

BLG LOGISTICS monitors its capital on the basis of the equity ratio and other key performance indicators. Assurances have been made to all partner banks with regard to equal treatment and the change-of-control clause.

In 2024, the strategy remained to secure access to external funds at acceptable costs.

In the reporting year, equity increased substantially from EUR 285,677 thousand to EUR 356,657 thousand, while total assets increased only slightly from EUR 1,317,368 thousand to EUR 1,408,040 thousand. Accordingly, the equity ratio improved from 21.7 percent to 25.3 percent. This is attributable in particular to the positive combined comprehensive income. Positive effects were also experienced from the remeasurement of pension provisions in the amount of EUR 1,403 thousand, as well as changes in the measurement of derivatives used as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges in the amount of EUR 596. The effects were recognized in other comprehensive income and relate to both fully consolidated companies and companies accounted for using the equity method, taking into account deferred taxes. The goal is to achieve an equity ratio of 30 percent.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risks may arise from payment bottlenecks and the resulting higher financing costs. The Group’s liquidity is ensured by central cash management at the level of BLG KG. All significant subsidiaries are included in cash management. Due to the centralized management of capital expenditure and credit management, financial resources (loans/leases) can be provided in good time to meet all payment requirements.

The Group’s liquidity needs are covered by cash and committed credit facilities. As of December 31, 2024, the Group had unused current account credit facilities of around EUR 76 million (previous year: around EUR 77 million).

Measures aimed at achieving BLG LOGISTICS’ sustainability targets are also attractive for potential lenders and can be criteria for granting loans. Our sustainability measures therefore act as a factor in ensuring that we can meet our liquidity requirements in the future.

In parallel, the BLG Group uses the non-recourse sale of receivables under a factoring agreement as an off-balance-sheet financing instrument to further optimize the balance sheet structure. The obligations of the factor to purchase existing and future receivables are limited to a total maximum amount of EUR 75 million. BLG LOGISTICS is free to decide to what extent the revolving nominal volume is utilized. The risks material to disposal relate to the credit risk and the risk of late payment (late payment risk). The credit risk is transferred in full to the factor in return for payment of a factoring fee. There is no significant late payment risk. The receivables were therefore derecognized in full. The cash flows from factoring were recognized accordingly in cash flows from operating activities through the change in trade receivables. The BLG Group recognized expenses (factoring fee, interest) in the amount of EUR 1,488 thousand (previous year: EUR 1,136 thousand) in relation to the ongoing engagement. The nominal volume of the receivables sold as of December 31, 2024 came to EUR 51.6 million (previous year: EUR 51.9 million).

The following tables present the contractually arranged (undiscounted) interest payments and principal repayments of non-current financial liabilities and derivative financial instruments (interest rate swaps).

All non-current financial instruments held at the end of the reporting period and for which payments had been contractually arranged were included here. Budget figures for future new liabilities are not included whereas current liabilities with maturities of up to one year were disclosed in the notes to the individual items in the statement of financial position.

The floating interest payments from financial instruments were calculated on the basis of the last interest rate fixed before the end of the reporting period.

Interest rate risk

The interest rate risk which BLG LOGISTICS is exposed to arises primarily from non-current loans and other non-current financial liabilities. Interest rate risks are managed with a combination of fixed-interest and floating-interest loan capital. The majority of the liabilities to banks have been concluded for the long term or fixed interest rates have been agreed through to the end of the financing term, either originally as part of the loan agreements or through interest rate swaps which have been concluded within micro-hedges for individual floating-interest loans. In addition, while interest rates were low and attractive for investments, a portion of the financing requirement of the coming years was hedged in the prior years by agreeing forward interest rate swaps. The final tranche of EUR 15 million from a total volume of EUR 90 million was raised in the reporting year. Further information is presented under “Derivative financial instruments”.

Interest rate risks are disclosed through sensitivity analyses in accordance with IFRS 7. These risks illustrate the effects of changes in the market interest rate on interest payments, interest income and expense, other income items and equity. The interest rate sensitivity analyses are based on the following assumptions.

With regard to non-derivative financial instruments with fixed interest rates, market interest rate changes are only recognized through profit or loss if these financial instruments are measured at fair value. All fixed-interest financial instruments measured at amortized cost are not subject to interest rate risks within the meaning of IFRS 7. This applies to all fixed-interest loan liabilities of BLG LOGISTICS, including lease liabilities and other financial loans. When hedging interest rate risks in the form of cash flow hedge-designated interest rate swaps, changes to the cash flows and to the contributions to earnings induced by changes to the market interest rate of the hedged primary financial instruments and the interest rate swaps balance each other out almost completely, effectively eliminating the interest rate risk.

Measuring hedging instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income has an effect on the hedging reserve in equity and is therefore taken into account in the equity-related sensitivity calculation. Changes in the market interest rate of non-derivative floating-interest financial instruments, the interest payments of which are not structured as hedged items as part of cash flow hedges against interest rate risks, have an effect on net interest income (expense) and are therefore included in the calculation of income-related sensitivities.

The same applies to interest payments from interest rate swaps which are, as an exception, not contained in a hedge accounting relationship in accordance with IFRS 9. In the case of these interest rate swaps, market interest rate changes also have an effect on the fair value and therefore affect the remeasurement of financial assets or financial liabilities to fair value and are therefore included in the income-related sensitivity analysis.

If the market interest rate at the end of each reporting period had been 100 basis points higher (lower), it would have resulted in the effects shown in the following table on earnings before taxes and on equity (before deferred taxes):

Fixed interest financial instruments

Fixed interest rates have been agreed for the following financial instruments. BLG LOGISTICS is therefore exposed to an interest rate risk for the fair value.

Lease liabilities are discounted using the interest rate inherent to the lease, if that rate can be determined. Alternatively, they are discounted at the incremental borrowing rate. The discount rate corresponds to the interest rate determined at the commencement date of the lease, unless a reassessment requires a remeasurement of the lease liabilities using a changed discount rate. This applies if changes in the estimate regarding the exercise or non-exercise of purchase, renewal or termination options arise, or changes to the scope, amount of contractual payments or the term of the lease are agreed.

Floating rate financial instruments

Floating interest rates have been agreed for the following financial instruments. The Group is therefore exposed to an interest rate risk for the cash flows. The interest rate swaps in question are presented with a minus sign, as the interest rate risk here offsets the interest rate risk from the loans taken out.

The Group’s other financial instruments, which are not included in the tables, are not subject to any significant interest rate risk.

Derivative financial instruments

A risk to be hedged must exist to enable the use of derivatives. However, open derivative positions may arise in connection with hedging transactions in which the underlying transaction no longer exists or does not arise as planned. Interest rate derivatives are solely employed to optimize loan conditions and to limit interest rate risks arising from floating interest payments in relation to financing strategies with matching maturities (cash flow hedges). Derivatives to hedge foreign currency risks are used exclusively to limit foreign currency risk in relation to financing in foreign currencies (cash flow hedges). Derivatives are not used for trading or speculative purposes.

The Group has set a hedging ratio of 1:1 for all hedging relationships. Premiums for country or credit risks (credit spread or foreign currency basis spread) are not part of the hedging relationships. Hedging costs are initially recognized in the hedge reserve in equity and reclassified to profit or loss over the term of the hedging relationship.

The existence of the economic relationship between the hedged items and the hedging instruments for assessing the hedge effectiveness is determined prospectively on the basis of significant features such as nominal amount, benchmark rate and maturity. Ineffectiveness is measured at the end of each reporting period on the basis of the hypothetical derivative method. Ineffectiveness can result, in particular, from differences between the repricing time periods of the swaps and the loans.

Derivative financial instruments are recognized in the statement of financial position as of the date the contract is concluded. They are measured at fair value under additions. Subsequent measurement also takes place at the fair value effective at the end of the reporting period. To determine the fair value of a swap, the expected cash flows are discounted on both sides of the swap based on the current yield curve. The difference between the two amounts is the net market value of the swap. This market valuation of financial derivatives is the price at which one party would assume the existing contractual rights and obligations of the other party. The market values are determined based on the prevailing market conditions at the end of the reporting period.

If derivative financial instruments are used as hedging instruments and the requirements for hedge accounting in accordance with IFRS 9 are met, their accounting treatment depends on the type of hedging relationship and the hedged item. Derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are classified as measured at fair value through profit or loss in accordance with IFRS 9.

The hedging relationship between the hedged item and the hedging instrument, and the objective and strategy of risk management are documented at hedge inception in order to meet the conditions for hedge accounting. This also includes a description of how the effectiveness of the hedging relationship is determined. Effectiveness tests are performed upon hedge inception and at the end of each reporting period as part of the ongoing review as to whether the derivatives employed offset the hedged risks from the underlying transaction.

Changes in the fair value of the effective portions of cash flow hedges are recognized directly in equity. Changes in the fair values of the ineffective portions of cash flow hedges and interest rate swaps that are not designated as hedging instruments in hedging relationships are recognized through profit or loss.

As with other financial assets, derivatives are derecognized when the BLG Group loses control over the underlying rights in whole or in part by selling or discharging them or transferring them to a third party in a manner that qualifies for derecognition. The amounts recognized in equity are reclassified to profit or loss in the period, in which the hedged transaction is settled.

The following hedging instruments were in place at the ends of the reporting periods in order to reduce the interest rate risk from existing bank liabilities and the foreign currency risk from a variable USD loan granted in the context of Group financing:

The interest rate swaps involve the exchange of floating interest payments for fixed-rate payments. The Group is the payer of the fixed amounts and the recipient of the floating amounts.

The nominal amounts represent the gross volume of all purchases and sales. This figure serves as a benchmark for determining mutually agreed payments but is not a receivable or liability eligible for recognition in the statement of financial position.

Interest rate swaps each have terms of 10 years and are due upon maturing.

The hedging instruments in place as of the ends of the reporting periods had the following effects on the combined statement of financial position:

The carrying amounts of hedging instruments correspond to the calculated fair values. At the end of the reporting period, as in the previous year, all existing hedging instruments met the criteria for cash flow hedges

The nominal amount of the interest rate and currency swaps in foreign currency as of December 31, 2024 came to USD 500 thousand (previous year: USD 1,500 thousand).

The hedged items designated in hedging relationships had the following effects on the combined statement of financial position as of the end of the reporting periods:

The following amounts were recognized in relation to hedging relationships:

The composition of the hedge reserve presented in note 20, including deferred taxes, breaks down by risk category and other components resulting from hedge accounting as shown in the table below.

As the reference amounts are reduced by the repayment of the underlying loans in parallel with the loan proceeds, no gains or losses are recognized as long as the financial instruments are not sold. No sale is planned.