Miscellaneous information

 

32 Share-based payments

Participation programme

In the financial year 2008, MLP launched a participation programme for branch office managers, MLP consultants and employees in order to keep them loyal to the Company in the long-term. The programme grants a certain number of phantom shares (stock appreciation rights – SARs) for branch office managers and MLP consultants based on their sales performance in the core fields of old-age provision, health insurance and wealth management, in addition to employees based on their position and gross annual income. The SARs of the 2008-2011 tranches were allocated in 2009-2012. The assessment period for determining the number of SARs allocated was the calendar year prior to the respective allocation. The total term of each tranche is 12 years and is broken down into three phases of four years each. The first year of phase 1 represents the assessment period, from which the number of phantom shares to be allocated is calculated. At the start of the second year, the phantom shares are then allocated. Payment of the phantom shares is made no earlier than at the end of the first phase, i.e. three years after allocation of the SARs. At the end of the first phase, employees can also choose not to receive payment for the SARs and instead continue to participate in phase 2 (turbo I phase). Only in this case will they receive additional bonus SARs. And anyone who is eligible but chooses not to receive payment at the end of phase 2, but rather continue to phase 3 (turbo II phase), will be granted further bonus SARs. All SARs are paid no later than at the end of phase 3. In the event of termination of employment, all entitlements granted up to this time expire, assuming they have not been vested beforehand. The SARs originally granted become vested at the end of the first phase, the bonus SARs of turbo I phase at the end of phase 2 and those of turbo II at the end of phase 3. Participation in the programme ends with termination of employment or disbursement of SARs.

 

The level of payment is based on the value of one MLP share at the time payment is requested. A share price guarantee is in place for all previous tranches, although this expires if the eligible participant decides to continue participation in the programme beyond phase 1. If an eligible participant decides to receive the payout to which he or she is entitled from the tranche once phase 1 has expired, the value he or she receives is based on either the share price guarantee or the current MLP share price (whichever is the higher value) multiplied by the number of phantom shares held from phase 1. At all other payout times, eligible participants receive the current share price multiplied by the number of vested phantom shares held.

 

If the contractual relationship with an eligible participant ends at a time before December 31 in the twelfth year of eligibility, said participant can only demand payment of entitlements pertaining to the number of vested phantom shares held up to this time. Phantom shares allocated from vesting periods not yet completed are then forfeited.

 

With the 2011 tranche, the participation programme was granted for the last time. It was stopped completely from 2012 onwards.

 

In terms of eligibility, the three phases each represent completed vesting periods. Accordingly, the expenses due to the SARs originally granted are distributed over phase 1 (years one to four), the expenses due to the bonus SARs of turbo I phase over years five to eight and the expenses due to the bonus SARs of turbo II phase over years nine to twelve (no front-loaded recognition of expenses).

Tranche 2008 Tranche 2009 Tranche 2010 Tranche 2011 Total
Inventory on Jan. 1, 2018 (units) 131,257 87,525 65,463 119,587 403,832
SARs expired in 2018 (units) -1,247 -1,900 -1,104 -3,315 -7,566
Paid out in 2018 (units) - - -4,080 - -4,080
Inventory on Dec. 31, 2018 (units) 130,010 85,625 60,279 116,272 392,186
Expenses recognised in 2018 (€'000) - - -12 12
Income recognised in 2018 (€'000) -245 -58 -260 -83 -646
-245 -58 -260 -72 -634
Expenses recognised in 2017 (€'000) 494 128 358 393 1,373
Income recognised in 2017 (€'000) -25 -2 -6 -2 -34
469 126 352 391 1,338
Provision as of Dec. 31, 2017 (€'000) 1,527 545 1,052 1,147 4,271
Provision as of Dec. 31, 2018 (€'000) 1,311 502 726 1,088 3,628

The expense and the provision from the participation programme are recognised pro rata temporis throughout the individual phases (vesting period). The provision is measured at fair value through profit or loss. The provision accrued on the respective closing date depends on the price of the MLP share, the number of SARs issued and the length of the remaining vesting period.

 

The participation programme for MLP consultants and MLP branch office managers was launched in 2017 ("2017 Participation Programme"). Its objectives are to extend recognition of extraordinary and sustainable performance, as well as the performance and client focus of MLP consultants and MLP branch office managers, while also making a contribution to keeping high performers both motivated and loyal to the Company. This programme was continued in 2018. Set against this background MLP consultants and MLP branch office managers are to be enabled to acquire shares in MLP SE within the scope of the participation programme and in line with its conditions without having to make any additional payments.

 

Assuming all eligibility requirements are met, those MLP consultants whho are entitled to participate are each granted a number of bonus shares, determined pursuant to the provisions of the 2018 participation programme (taking into account income tax effects where applicable). This number is calculated by dividing the "2018 bonus amount" by the average closing price of the MLP share. The "2018 bonus amount" is calculated on the basis of the MLP consultant's annual commission alongside various performance factors. The average closing price applicable for determining how many bonus shares to grant is based on the price of the MLP share in the month of February 2019. 337,876 shares were issued in the last financial year. An expense of € 2,500 thsd was recognised for the 2018 bonus amount in the consolidated financial statements with a reserve-increasing effect.

  

33 Leases

The Group has concluded operating leases as lessee for various motor vehicles, administration buildings and office machines. The average term of the contracts is three years for motor vehicles, generally up to ten years for buildings and four years for office machines. Some of the lease contracts also include extension options.

 

The following future payment obligations (face values) due to irredeemable operating leases were in place on the balance sheet date:

All figures in €'000 Up to 1 year 1–5 years >5 years Total
Rent on buildings 11,978 36,887 9,553 58,418
Rental/leasing liabilities 2,050 1,838 5 3,893
Total 14,028 38,725 9,558 62,311

Some of the rented business spaces were sublet. The subletting contracts are anticipated to bring in € 302 thsd in 2018 (previous year: € 224 thsd).

 

The following future payment obligations (face values) due to irredeemable operating leases were in place as of December 31, 2017:

All figures in €'000 Up to 1 year 1–5 years >5 years Total
Rent on buildings 12,312 38,394 13,981 64,687
Rental/leasing liabilities 1,402 1,533 1 2,935
Total 13,714 39,927 13,982 67,623

In the previous year, other financial commitments were disclosed together under leases. For greater clarity and in preparation for the requirements in accordance with IFRS 16, they are presented separately for contingent assets and liabilities as well as other commitments.
 

34 Contingent assets and liabilities, as well as other liabilities

As it is composed of companies from different business segments, MLP is exposed to a variety of legal risks. These include, in particular, risks in the fields of warranty, taxes and litigation risks. The outcome of currently pending or future legal actions cannot be forecast with any degree of certainty and it follows that expenses could be incurred as a result of unexpected decisions, which has not been fully covered by loan loss provisions or insurance policies and which is liable to have a material impact on the business and its results. In MLP's opinion, decisions producing a major negative effect on the net assets, financial position and results of operations at the Group's expense are not anticipated with regard to the currently pending legal actions.

 

Reinsurance has been arranged for benefit obligations for branch office managers. Final liability for the benefit obligation lies with MLP in accordance with section 1 (1) (3) of the German Company Pension Law (BetrAVG). MLP does not currently anticipate any financial consequences as a result of this.

 

MLP Banking AG is a member in the depositors' guarantee fund of the Association of German Banks (BdB e.V.), Berlin, and in the Compensation Scheme of German Banks (EdB GmbH), also in Berlin. Obligations to make additional payments could potentially arise from the allocation obligation here.

 

On the balance sheet date, there are € 4,719 thsd in contingent liabilities on account of sureties and warranties (face value of the obligation) (previous year: € 3,848 thsd) and irrevocable credit commitments (contingent liabilities) of € 54,667 thsd (previous year: € 51,659 thsd). In terms of sureties and warranties, any utilisation remains unlikely as in the past. The irrevocable credit commitments are generally utilised.

IT technology outsourcing essentially relates to a long-term outsourcing contract with EntServ Deutschland GmbH, Böblingen.

 

As of the balance sheet date, other financial commitments were as follows:

All figures in €'000 Up to 1 year 1–5 years >5 years Total
Outsourcing IT technology 38,608 67,383 - 105,991
Purchase commitment 6,421 - - 6,421
Other obligation 20,499 18,983 41 39,523
Total 65,528 86,366 41 151,935

As of December 2017, other financial commitments were as follows:

All figures in €'000 Up to 1 year 1–5 years >5 years Total
Outsourcing IT technology 32,989 98,648 - 131,637
Purchase commitment 8,199 - - 8,199
Other obligation 13,954 3,699 69 17,722
Total 55,142 102,347 69 157,558

35 Additional information on financial instruments

Classifications and fair values

The carrying amounts and fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities, including their (hierarchical) tiers, are grouped into financial instrument classes and categories as shown in the following tables.

All figures in €'000 Dec 31, 2018
Carrying amount Fair value No financial instruments according to
IFRS 9
Carrying amount corresponds to fair value Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Total
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (FVPL) 13,080 184  2,972  9,925 13,080 5,799 
Financial investments (shares and structured bonds) 9,925 - - 9,925 - 9,925
Financial investments (shares and investment fund shares) 2,972 - 2,972 - - 2,972
Investments 184 184 - - - 184 5,799
Financial assets measured at amortised cost (AC) 2,110,293 808,709 41,271 628,524 645,399 2,123,903 35,206
Receivables from banking business – clients 761,027 131,028 - - 645,399 776,427
Receivables from banking business – banks 694,210 108,843 - 583,536 - 692,380
Financial investments (fixed and time deposits) 49,998 49,998 - - - 49,998
Financial investments (loans) 9,997 9,997 - - - 9,997
Financial assets (bonds) 86,219 - 41,271 44,988 - 86,259
Other receivables and assets 122,917 122,917 - - - 122,917 35,206
Cash and cash equivalents 385,926 385,926 - - - 385,926
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 1,861,006 1,755,682 - 102,115 - 1,857,797 25,279
Liabilities due to banking business – clients 1,638,892 1,614,863 - 24,032 - 1,638,895
Liabilities due to banking business – banks 81,625 330 - 78,083 - 78,413
Other liabilities 140,489 140,489 - - - 140,489 25,279
Sureties and warranties 4,719 4,719 4,719
Irrevocable credit commitments 54,667 54,667 54,667
All figures in €'000 Dec. 31, 2017
Carrying amount Fair value No financial instruments according to IAS32/39
Carrying amount corresponds to fair value Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Total
Financial assets measured at fair value 28,424 8,817 19,607 28,424
Fair Value Option 4,978 4,978 4,978
Financial investments (share certificates and structured bonds) 4,978 - 4,978 - - 4,978
Available-for-sale financial assets 23,446 3,839 19,607 23,446
Financial investments (share certificates and investment fund shares) 4,047  - 3,839 207 - 4,047
Financial assets (bonds) 19,399 - - 19,399 - 19,399
Financial assets measured at amortised cost 1,866,993 743,346 28,256 513,461 615,588 1,900,650
Loans and receivables 1,802,047 736,722 483,394 615,588 1,835,705
Receivables from banking business – clients 701,975 120,675 - - 615,588 736,263
Receivables from banking business – banks 634,150 150,125 - 483,394 - 633,520
Financial investments (fixed and time deposits) 55,087 55,087 55,087
Financial investments (loans) 10,000 10,000 10,000
Other receivables and assets 99,822 99,822  -  - 99,822 25,920
Cash and cash equivalents 301,013 301,013 301,013
Held-to-maturity investments 58,322 28,256 30,066 58,322
Financial assets (bonds) 58,322 28,256 30,066 58,322
Available-for-sale financial assets 6,624 6,624 6,624
Financial assets (investments) 6,624 6,624 6,624
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 1,619,206 1,535,513 81,354 1,616,867
Liabilities due to banking business – clients 1,439,805 1,416,395 - 23,432 1,439,827 -
Liabilities due to banking business – banks 61,383 1,100 - 57,921 59,022 -
Other liabilities 118,018 118,018  - 118,018 36,895
Sureties and warranties 3,848 3,848 3,848
Irrevocable credit commitments 51,659 51,659 51,659

Cash and cash equivalents, receivables and liabilities due to banking business without agreed terms to maturity, trade receivables, from companies in which the Group holds an interest and other assets all predominantly have short terms to maturity. Their carrying amounts on the balance sheet date are therefore almost identical to the fair values. The same applies to the trade accounts payable.

 

On the reporting date, MLP held financial guarantees in the form of sureties and warranties of € 4,569 thsd (previous year: € 3,698 thsd). These financial guarantees are measured on the basis of the impairment provisions defined in IFRS 9. Impairments of € 26 thsd resulting from this are disclosed under other provisions.

 

Determining fair value

Insofar as there is an active market for financial assets and financial liabilities, the prices of the market with the greatest trading volume on the closing date are used as the basis for determining the fair value. With investment shares, the fair value corresponds to the redemption prices published by the capital investment companies. If there is no active market on the closing date, the fair value is determined using recognised valuation models.

 

For equity instruments of financial investments not listed on an active market, the fair value is generally determined on the basis of the gross rental method using non-observable parameters such as beta factors or risk-equivalent discount interest rates. If it is not possible to reliably determine the fair value, in particular due to a lack of necessary data on earning projections, equity instruments not listed on an active market are recognised at their acquisition costs, minus any impairments. As of the balance sheet date there is no indication of fair values being lower than carrying amounts. There are also no plans to dispose of these investments.

 

The valuation model for assets and liabilities assigned to tier 2 takes into account the present value of the anticipated future cash inflows/outflows throughout the remaining term, which are discounted using a risk-free discount rate. The discount rate is based on the current yield curve. The anticipated cash flows are adjusted for the effects of credit and default risks. When determining the fair value of financial investments, on the other hand, the discount rate is adjusted to include a credit spread.

 

The table below shows the valuation techniques that were used to determine tier 3 fair values, as well as the significant, non-observable input factors applied:

Type Valuation technique Significant, non-observable input factors Relationship between significant, non-observable input factors and measurement at fair value
Receivables from banking business – clients with agreed maturity The valuation model takes into account the present value of the anticipated future cash inflows/outflows throughout the remaining term, which are discounted using a risk-free discount rate. The discount rate is based on the current yield curve. Credit and default risks, administration costs and expected return on equity are taken into account when determining future cash flows. Adjustment of cash flows by: credit and counterparty default risks
  • administration costs
  • expected return on equity

The estimated fair value would increase (decrease) if:
  • the credit and default risk were to rise (fall)
  • the admin costs were to fall (rise)
  • the expected return on equity were to fall (rise).

Net gains and losses from financial instruments are distributed among the categories for financial assets and financial liabilities at the amounts specified:

All figures in €'000 2018 (IFRS 9) 2017 (IAS 39)
Loans and receiveables - 18,285
Held-to-maturity investments - 406
Available-for-sale financial assets - 2,463
Financial instruments held for trading - -
Fair Value Option - 485
FVPL - -1,014
Financial assets measured at amortised cost 18,612 -
Financial assets measured at fair value 542 -
Liabilities measured at amortised cost -666 -

Net gains or net losses comprise gains and losses on fair value measurement through profit or loss, impairment losses and reversals of impairment losses, and gains and losses on the sale of the financial instruments concerned.

 

These items also include interest income and expenses, as well as dividends and income from financial assets derecognised in their entirety.

 

For financial instruments that were not measured at fair value through profit or loss, interest income of € 17,485 thsd (previous year: € 20,579 thsd) and interest costs of € 666 thsd (previous year: € 1,238 thsd) were incurred. 

 

For impairment losses, we refer to the note on the items "Receivables from the banking business", "Other receivables and assets" and "Financial investments". Commission income and expenses that were not included in the process for determining the effective interest rate can primarily be attributed to early repayment penalties to a negligible extent.

 

The maximum default risk of the financial instruments held by MLP corresponds to the carrying amount.

  

36 Financial risk management

With the exception of the disclosures in line with IFRS 7.35-39 (b) (with the exception of 7.35B (c)), the disclosures on the type and severity of risks resulting from financial instruments (IFRS 7.31-42) are included in the risk report of the joint management report and in Note 34.

 

In the following maturity analysis, contractually agreed cash inflows are shown with a positive sign, while contractually agreed outflows of cash and cash equivalents are shown with a negative sign. For financial guarantees and credit commitments, the potential outflow of cash and cash equivalents is disclosed. The contractually agreed maturities do not correspond to the inflows and outflows of cash and cash equivalents actually expected – in particular in the case of the financial guarantees and credit commitments. Management of the default and liquidity risk is disclosed in the risk report of the group management report.

 

The tables below show the maturity structure of financial liabilities with contractually fixed terms to maturity:

Total cash flow (principal and interest) in €'000 as of Dec. 31, 2018 Due on demand Up to 1 year 1 to 5 years More than 5 years Total
Financial liabilities 1,607,200 143,396 37,724 64,275 1,852,595
Liabilities due to banking business – clients 1,606,870 24,043 - - 1,631,913
Liabilities due to banking business – banks 330 -964 14,933 64,275 78,574
Other liabilities - 120,318 22,790 - 143,108
Financial guarantees and credit commitments 59,386 59,386
Sureties and warranties 4,719 - - - 4,719
Irrevocable credit commitments 54,667 - - - 54,667
Total 1,666,586 143,396 37,724 64,275 1,911,981
Total cash flow (principal and interest) in €'000 as of Dec. 31, 2017 Due on demand Up to 1 year 1 to 5 years More than 5 years Total
Financial liabilities 1,458,491 93,081 12,004 53,510 1,617,087
Liabilities due to banking business – clients 1,416,395 23,434 - - 1,439,829
Liabilities due to banking business – banks 1,100 -4,822 9,986 53,159 59,424
Other liabilities 40,996 74,469 2,018 351 117,834
Financial guarantees and credit commitments 55,507 55,507
Sureties and warranties 3,848 - - - 3,848
Irrevocable credit commitments 51,659 - - - 51,659
Total 1,513,998 93,081 12,004 53,510 1,672,594

37 Declaration of Compliance with the German Corporate Governance Code pursuant to section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG)

The Executive and Supervisory Boards issued a declaration of compliance with the German Corporate Governance Code pursuant to section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) and made it permanently available to the shareholders via its website, www.mlp-se.de and in the corporate governance report of this Annual Report.

38 Related parties

Executive Board Mandates in other statutory Supervisory Boards of companies based in Germany Memberships in comparable domestic and foreign control bodies of commercial enterprises
Dr. Uwe Schroeder-Wildberg, Heidelberg
Chairman
Responsible for
Strategy, Sales, Communication, Policy/Investor Relations, Marketing, Sustainability

  • FERI AG, Bad Homburg v.d.H. (Chairman)
Reinhard Loose, Berlin
Responsible for
Compliance, Controlling, IT, Group Accounting, Risk Management, Internal Audit, Legal, Human Resources

  • DOMCURA AG, Kiel

Manfred Bauer, Leimen
Responsible for
Product management
  • DOMCURA AG, Kiel (Chairman)
  • MLP Hyp GmbH, Wiesloch (Supervisory Board)
Supervisory Board Mandates in other statutory Supervisory Boards of companies based in Germany Memberships in comparable domestic and foreign control bodies of commercial enterprises
Dr. Peter Lütke-Bornefeld, Everswinkel
Chairman
Formerly Chairman of the Executive Board of General Reinsurance AG, Cologne
  • VHV Vereinigte Hannoversche Versicherung a. G., Hannover (Chairman)
  • VHV Holding AG, Hannover (Chairman)
  • VHV Allgemeine Versicherung AG, Hannover
  • Hannoversche Lebensversicherung AG, Hannover
  • MLP Banking AG, Wiesloch (Chairman)
  • MLP Finanzberatung SE, Wiesloch (Chairman)

  • ITAS Mutua, Trient, Italy (Member of the Governing Board) (until 24.4.2018)


Dr. Claus-Michael Dill, Murnau
Vice Chairman
formerly chairman of the Executive Board
AXA Konzern AG, Cologne


  • HUK-COBURG Holding AG, Coburg

  • HUK-COBURG Haftpflicht-Unterstützungs-Kasse kraftfahrender Beamter Deutschlands a.G., Coburg
  • HUK-COBURG-Allgemeine Versicherung AG, Coburg
  • HUK-COBURG Lebensversicherung AG, Coburg (since December 7, 2018)
  • HUK-COBURG Krankenversicherung AG, Coburg (since December 7, 2018)
    • XL Catlin Re Switzerland AG, Zurich, Switzerland (Chairman of the Governing Board)
    • XL Group Ltd., Hamilton/Bermuda (Non-Executive Director) (until September 14, 2018)
    • XL Europe Re SE, Dublin, Irland (Non-Executive Director)
    • XL Insurance Co. SE, London, UK (Non-Executive Director)

    Tina Müller,
    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Douglas GmbH, Düsseldorf
    Matthias Lautenschläger, Heidelberg (since June 14, 2018)
    Managing Partner at USC Heidelberg Spielbetrieb GmbH, Heidelberg
    • MLP Banking AG, Wiesloch (until May 8, 2018)
    Burkhard Schlingermann, Dusseldorf
    Employees' representative
    Employees of MLP Finanzberatung SE, Wiesloch
    Works council member at MLP SE and MLP Finanzberatung SE, Wiesloch

    • MLP Finanzberatung SE, Wiesloch (employees' representative, Vice Chairman)
    Alexander Beer, Karlsruhe
    Employees' representative
    Employee of MLP Banking AG, Wiesloch
    • MLP Banking AG, Wiesloch (Employees' representative) (from January 19, 2018 until May 8, 2018)
    Dr. h.c. Manfred Lautenschläger, Gaiberg
    Vice Chairman
    (until June 14, 2018)
    Formerly Chairman of the Executive Board
    • University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg (Supervisory Board)

    Related persons

    Within the scope of the ordinary business, legal transactions were made between individual Group companies and members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board as well as related parties. The legal transactions refer to the payment transactions and securities services of € 989 thsd (previous year: € 1,306 thsd). The legal transactions were completed under standard market or employee conditions.

     

    As of the reporting date of December 31, 2018, members of the Executive Bodies had current account credit lines and surety loans totalling € 573 thsd (previous year: € 548 thsd). Surety loans are charged an interest rate of 1.0% (previous year: 2.0%) and the current account debits 6.25% to 8.50% (previous year: 6.25% to 8.50%).

     

    The total compensation for members of the Executive Board active on the reporting date is € 3,102 thsd (previous year: € 2,569 thsd), of which € 1,347 thsd (previous year: € 1,345 thsd) is attributable to the fixed portion of compensation and € 1,755 thsd (previous year: € 1,223 thsd) is attributable to the variable portion of compensation. In the financial year, expenses of € 290 thsd (previous year: € 290 thsd) were accrued for occupational pension provision. As of December 31, 2018, pension provisions of € 17,095 thsd were in place for former members of the Executive Board (previous year: € 16,897 thsd).

     

    Variable portions of compensation comprise long-term compensation components.

     

    The members of the Supervisory Board received non-performance-related compensation of € 500 thsd for their activities in 2018 (previous year: € 500 thsd). In addition, € 20 thsd (previous year: € 18 thsd) was paid as compensation for expenses and training measures.

     

    For the detailed structure of the pay system and the compensation of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board, please refer to the compensation report in the "Corporate governance" chapter. The compensation report is part of the management report.

     

    Related companies

    Alongside the consolidated subsidiaries, MLP SE comes into direct and indirect contact with,  and has relations with, a large number of companies within the scope of its ordinary business. This also includes subsidiaries, which are non-consolidated for reasons of materiality, and associates. All business dealings are concluded at conditions and terms customary in the industry and which as a matter of principle do not differ from delivery and service relationships with other companies. Payments to related companies for services performed essentially concern wealth management and consulting, brokerage, sales and trailer commission.

     

    Transactions were carried out with major related companies, which led to the following items in the consolidated financial statements:

      

    Related companies 2018
    All figures in €'000 Receivables Liabilities Income Expenses
    MLP Consult GmbH, Wiesloch - 2,054 8 -
    MLP Hyp GmbH, Wiesloch (associate) 273 4 11,985 120
    Uniwunder GmbH, Dresden 235 500 199 3,824
    FERI (Schweiz) AG (formerly Michel & Cortesi Assetmanagement AG), Zurich 707 78 62 292
    FPE Private Equity Beteiligungs-Treuhand GmbH, Munich 2 - 72 -
    FPE Private Equity Koordinations GmbH, Munich - - 48 -
    FERI Private Equity GmbH & Co. KG, Munich - - - 6
    FERI Private Equity Nr. 2 GmbH & Co. KG, Munich - - - 5
    DIEASS GmbH, Kiel - 17 14 17
    innoAssekuranz GmbH (Portus Assekuranz Vermittlungsgesellschaft mbH), Kiel - 29 21 29
    Walther GmbH Versicherungsmakler, Hamburg - 212 359 242
    Total 1,216 2,894 12,767 4,535
    Related companies 2017
    All figures in €'000 Receivables Liabilities Income Expenses
    MLP Consult GmbH, Wiesloch - 2,067 8 -
    MLP Hyp GmbH, Wiesloch (associate) 63 - 9,620 49
    Michel & Cortesi Assetmanagement AG, Zurich 428 74 164 287
    FPE Private Equity Beteiligungs-Treuhand GmbH, Munich - - 50 -
    FPE Private Equity Koordinations GmbH, Munich - - 50 -
    DIEASS GmbH, Kiel - 11 9 11
    Portus Assekuranz Vermittlungsgesellschaft mbH, Kiel - 16 14 16
    Walther GmbH Versicherungsmakler, Hamburg - 34 151 34
    Total 492 2,202 10,066 397

    39 Number of employees

    The average number of staff employed increased from 1,686 in 2017 to 1,722 in 2018.

      

    2018 2017
    of which executive employees of which marginal part-time employees of which executive employees of which marginal part-time employees
    Financial consulting/banking *) 1,233 35 28 1,202 32 29
    FERI 223 7 34 224 7 47
    DOMCURA 260 9 15 254 9 15
    Holding 6 1 - 6 1 -
    Total 1,722 52 77 1,686 48 90

    An average of 85 people (previous year: 97) underwent vocational training in the financial year.

      

    40 Auditor's fees

    The total fees for services performed by the auditing firm KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main in financial year 2018 (including expenses, but excluding statutory value added tax) are as follows:

    All figures in €'000 2018 2017
    Audit services 790 719
    Other audit-related services 191 478
    Tax advisory services - 2
    Other services 39 14
    Total 1,020 1,214

    The item Audit services contains the fees paid for the audit of the consolidated financial statements and for the audit of the other legally stipulated financial statements of MLP SE and its subsidiaries.

      

    41 Disclosures on equity/capital control

    A primary objective of equity control is to ensure that the legal solvency regulations for banking and financial services businesses, which prescribe a minimum capital adequacy, are fulfilled and that the quantitative and qualitative equity base is strengthened. At MLP, the examinations for the purpose of complying with the solvency regulations, which came into force on January 1, 2014, as well as Article 7 and Article 11 et seq. of EU Directive No. 575/2013 of the European Parliament and Council from June 26, 2013 regarding the supervisory requirements of financial institutions and investment firms, are performed on a consolidated basis (Group). Since January 1, 2017, we have been drafting an independent IFRS consolidation on the supervisory scope of consolidation. The disclosures are based on the legal foundations in place and valid on the reporting date.

     

    As per Article 11 of the CRR, the relevant Group includes MLP SE, Wiesloch, MLP Banking AG, Wiesloch, FERI AG, Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe, FERI Trust GmbH, Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe, FEREAL AG, Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe, FERI Trust (Luxembourg) S. A., Luxembourg.

     

    As the deposit-taking bank, MLP Banking AG, Wiesloch, is the controlling company in the MLP Financial Holding Group as per Article 11 of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR).

     

    The following means and measures for controlling and adjusting the equity capital of the Group are available to MLP: (I) Issuing new shares and (II) Making transfers to the statutory reserve to strengthen Tier 1 capital.

     

    Pursuant to Article 92 et seq. of the CRR, MLP is obliged to back its capital adequacy requirements for both counterparty default risks and the operational risk at Group level with at least 9.875 % eligible own funds (equity ratio) (previous year: 9.250%).

     

    MLP applies the standardised approach to credit risk for determining the risk-weighted exposure values (counterparty default risks) in accordance with Article 111 et seq. of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR). The basic indicator approach is used for determining the amount for the operational risk (Article 315 et seq. of the CRR).

     

    As in the previous year, the backing of risk assets with eligible own funds for Tier 1 capital generally requires a minimum ratio of 4.5 % throughout. As per Article 25 et seq. of the CRR, the Group's Tier 1 capital includes the following equity items of IFRS capital: share capital, capital reserves, statutory reserve and retained earnings. Among other factors, the following serve to reduce Tier 1 capital: intangible assets, treasury stock and goodwill.

     

    As in the previous year, MLP has fulfilled all legal requirements relating to the minimum core capital backing during financial year 2018. The relationship between core capital requirement and core capital as of the balance sheet date is illustrated below.

    All figures in €'000 2018 2017
    Tier 1 common capital 288,857 291,003
    Tier 1 additional capital - -
    Tier 2 capital - -
    Eligible own funds 288,857 291,003
    Capital adequacy requirements for counterparty default risks 77,582 73,840
    Capital adequacy requirements for operational risk 40,087 42,443
    Equity ratio (at least 9.875 %) (at least 8 % + 1.875 % (previous year 1.25 %) capital conservation buffer) 19.64 20.02
    Tier 1 common capital ratio (at least 4.5 %) 19.64 20.02

    42 Events after the balance sheet date

    There were no appreciable events after the balance sheet date affecting the net assets, financial position or results of operations of the Group.
      

    43 Release of consolidated financial statements

    The Executive Board prepared the consolidated financial statements on March 1, 2019 and will present them to the Supervisory Board on March 13, 2019 for publication.

     

     

    Wiesloch, March 1, 2019

    MLP SE

    Executive Board





                                           
    Dr. Uwe Schroeder-Wildberg                                 Manfred Bauer                                    Reinhard Loose