29.Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating activities

The net cash of €1,234 million (previous year: €1,383 million) provided by operating activities comprises the cash surplus from operating activities and reflects the changes in working capital and other noncash transactions.

The €149 million (–10.8%) year-over-year decrease in net cash provided by operating activities was chiefly the result of lower by €156 million. The outflows from working capital of €116 million (previous year: inflows of €77 million) were partially offset by lower income tax payments by €141 million.

Cash flows from investing activities

Net cash outflow for investing activities in fiscal 2020 amounted to €1,769 million (previous year: €838 million).

These mainly included cash outflows for additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets of €704 million (previous year: €910 million) and expenses for other current financial assets of €1,089 million (previous year: €1 million).

Cash flows from financing activities

The net cash inflow from financing activities amounted to €1,204 million in fiscal 2020 (previous year: net cash outflow from financing activities of €668 million). Net credit assumed amounted to €1,056 million (previous year: net credit repaid of €147 million). Short-term debt assumed and repaid was netted.

The issuance of 10,200,000 new, no-par value bearer shares resulted in net cash (after deduction of the costs of raising equity) of €444 million.

In August 2020, dividend totaling €219 million was paid to Covestro AG shareholders (previous year: €438 million).

The interest paid totaling €79 million (previous year: €86 million) reflected in cash flows from financing activities relates mainly to lease liabilities of €28 million (previous year: €33 million), forward exchange contracts used to hedge foreign currency risks of €27 million (previous year: €39 million), and bonds of €14 million (previous year: €14 million).

 

Reconciliation of financial debt in fiscal 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes cash flows not realized

 

 

 

 

Carrying amounts
Dec. 31, 2019

 

Changes cash flows realized

 

Changes due to exchange rate movements

 

Changes in measurement

 

New contracts

 

Other changes

 

Carrying amounts
Dec. 31, 2020

 

 

€ million

 

€ million

 

€ million

 

€ million

 

in Mio. €

 

€ million

 

€ million

Bonds

 

997

 

991

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

1,990

Liabilities to banks

 

10

 

218

 

(1)

 

 

 

 

 

227

Lease liabilities

 

735

 

(152)

 

(35)

 

 

127

 

(3)

 

672

Other financial liabilities

 

 

(1)

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

1

Financial debt1

 

1,742

 

1,056

 

(36)

 

2

 

127

 

(1)

 

2,890

1

Not including forward exchange contracts used to hedge currency risks

EBIT/earnings before interest and taxes
Income after income taxes plus financial result and income tax expense