Financial position
|
2015 |
2014 |
||
Cash flow from operating activities |
318 |
302 |
||
Cash flow from investing activities |
(88) |
(62) |
||
Cash flow from financing activities |
(232) |
(238) |
||
Change in cash and cash equivalents |
(2) |
2 |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period |
5 |
3 |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period |
3 |
5 |
At EUR 318 million, the cash inflow from operating activities was up 5% on the prior-year figure (2014: EUR 302 million). This increase is mainly attributed to the Group’s higher net income, up EUR 12 million year-on-year. The higher cash outflow from trade net working capital compared with the prior-year period was offset by the change in provisions.
The cash outflow from investing activities rose 42% in fiscal year 2015 to EUR 88 million (2014: EUR 62 million), owing primarily to the EUR 25 million increase in capital expenditure in property, plant and equipment as well as intangible assets.
Decline in free cash flow
Free cash flow, measured as the cash inflow from operating activities and the cash outflow from investing activities, decreased by EUR 9 million in fiscal year 2015 to EUR 230 million (2014: EUR 239 million).
As at December 31, 2015, the cash outflow from financing activities totaled EUR 232 million (2014: EUR 238 million). Alongside the payment of the dividend of EUR 250 million, a cash inflow from liabilities due to affiliated companies of EUR 22 million characterized the development (2014: cash outflow of EUR 6 million).
Cash and cash equivalents, as the sum of cash on hand and bank balances, decreased EUR 2 million in comparison to December 31, 2014 to EUR 3 million (December 31, 2014: EUR 5 million).