Comparability with the first half of 2022
After due consideration is given to the following issues, the financial information presented for the first half of 2023 is comparable with the financial information for the first half of 2022.
Accounting and valuation methods
There were no other new standards, interpretations or amendments to IAS/IFRS standards which were significant for Deutsche Bahn Group (DB Group) nor which were the subject of mandatory adoption within the reporting period.
Details of major events and transactions
In the first half of 2023, compensation claims from the energy price brake resulting from the energy consumption of DB subsidiaries led to a decrease in the cost of materials of € 296 million.
Despite Government support measures, EBIT decreased significantly to € 324 million in the first half of 2023 due to negative market developments in air and ocean freight and higher upfront expenses in infrastructure (in the first half of 2022: € 781 million); cash flow from operating activities increased significantly to € 1,931 million (in the first half of 2022: € 1,498 million).
As of January 1, 2023, the apportionable costs for the various governance functions of the Group’s management will be passed on to the segments via a Group levy. As a result, the profit of the Subsidiaries/Other segment improved by € 158 million as of June 30, 2023, and deteriorated in the other segments (mainly DB Netze Track: € 66 million, DB Regional: € 26 million, DB Long-Distance: € 22 million, DB Cargo: € 16 million, DB Netze Stations: € 11 million) accordingly.
Estimation and forecast uncertainty
Estimates and forecasts continued to be subject to various uncertainties in the first half of 2023. This applies, for example, to the determination of compensation claims in the context of the introduction of the Germany-
Ticket, the valuation of provisions for loss-making passenger transport contracts, the valuation of doubtful receivables or to the assessment of possible impairments of assets.
Scope of consolidation
Changes in the scope of fully consolidated companies of DB Group are detailed in the following:
Additions of companies
In the first half of 2023, DB Group incurred no expenses (in the first half of 2022: € 5 million) on company acquisitions according to IFRS 3.
The additions concerned the first-time full consolidation of the GHT Mobility GmbH Group (GHT), Berlin. As a result of company law agreements and against the background of the financing conditions, DB Group has controlled GHT since January 1, 2023:
As a result of Deutsche Bahn AG’s (DB AG) decision to withdraw from the company as a majority owner and not to provide any further financial resources, GHT filed for insolvency at the beginning of May 2023.
The addition of GHT was not material for DB Group. The additions also included a start-up.
After being initially consolidated, GHT has generated revenues of € 2 million and a net profit of € 0 million.
Disposals of companies and parts of companies
The disposals in the scope of consolidation relate to the aforementioned GHT, two liquidations and 14 sales (companies from the DB Arriva segment in Denmark, Serbia and Poland). The sales generated a cash outflow of
€ 15 million.
The deconsolidation of GHT resulted in a disposal loss of € 15 million and the aforementioned sales in a disposal loss of € 13 million.
Effects on the consolidated statement of income
Overall, the effects of the changes in the scope of consolidation on the consolidated statement of income which have occurred compared with the first half of 2022 are not of a material nature and are presented in the following overview:
The revenues attributable to changes in the scope of consolidation are as follows: