Compared to the previous year, the balance sheet total was up €49 million, or 4%, to €1,274 million (2006/ 2007: €1,225 million). Both non-current and current assets showed a small increase, especially with regard to tangible assets and current receivables and other assets. On the liabilities side, the main rises were in non-current financial liabilities and current trade payables.

The figure for intangible assets is almost unchanged year on year, with a carrying amount of €363 million (2006/2007: €367 million). The amortization of product know-how of €12 million (2006/2007: €15 million) and the amortization of commercial patents and licenses of €10 million (2006/2007: €9 million) were partly compensated for by investment in software, especially for Outsourcing (Glossary)  projects, in the amount of €6 million (2006/2007: €8 million). In addition, intangible assets rose by a total of €12 million as a result of the acquisitions of Prosystems IT GmbH and Bankberatung Organisations- und IT-Beratung für Banken AG.

The carrying amount of property, plant and equipment is up €28 million on the previous year at €143 million (2006/2007: €115 million). Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment amounted to €60 million (2006/2007: €47 million). The principal investments made here were in data processing equipment, specialist tools and plant and machinery. Depreciation in the year under review amounted to €36 million (2006/2007: €33 million).

There was a small decline of €6 million to €45 million in non-current receivables and other assets (2006/2007: €51 million). This was largely due to the lower surplus of plan assets over pension obligations. The surplus totaled €7 million compared to €13 million in fiscal 2006/2007. This item also includes reworkable service (Glossary)  parts, whose carrying amount was €14 million (2006/2007: €16 million).

Inventories declined by €16 million to €278 million (2006/2007: €294 million). Current trade receivables rose to €363 million (2006/2007: €317 million). Other current assets rose to €65 million (2006/2007: €56 million).

Current bank deposits fell by €8 million to €16 million (2006/2007: €24 million) and current bank liabilities by €12 million to €23 million (2006/2007: €35 million).

Equity, including minority interest, was down by €2 million to €276 million (2006/2007: €278 million). Reductions caused by the payment of dividends worth €88 million (2006/2007: 46 million) and the further repurchasing of our own shares to the value of €43 million (2006/2007: €44 million) were almost entirely compensated for by profit for the period (Glossary)  of €127 million (2006/2007: €109 million). Equity movements are described in the table entitled “Changes in Equity.”

Non-current financial liabilities rose by €16 million to €186 million (2006/2007: €170 million), mainly as a result of new borrowings totaling €15 million from the revolving facility. Under the terms of this revolving facility, Wincor Nixdorf Group was granted a credit line of €350 million by a consortium of banks for a period of seven years up to August 2, 2012. Borrowings are subject to interest based on the EURIBOR plus a margin. The entire credit line is still available until expiry of the agreement without an obligation to make principal repayments before that time.

Other current accruals fell back slightly by €4 million to €171 million (2006/2007: €175 million). This was mainly the result of a fall in other miscellaneous accruals by €12 million and a simultaneous increase in personnel-related obligations of €4 million, and warranty obligations of €6 million. From the present perspective, the recognized accruals sufficiently cover all of the Group’s probable obligations.

Compared to the previous year, other current liabilities remained unchanged at €316 million.

The Group also has future non-balance sheet liabilities in relation to tenancies, leasing agreements, long-term purchase contracts and purchase commitments totaling €108 million (2006/2007: €90 million).