Liquidity (cash flow statement)

Cash inflow from operating activities from continuing operations amounted to €1,237 million in financial year 2020/21 (2019/20: cash inflow of €646 million). In the , the operating cash flow was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The improvement this year is largely attributable to the improvement in cash flow from . This is mainly the result of the significantly improved business development in the second half of the year and a corresponding adjustment in ordering behaviour.

Investing activities led to cash outflow of €137 million (2019/20: cash outflow of €265 million). In addition to slightly lower outgoing payments for investments, the improvement is mainly attributable to higher incoming payments in connection with property disposals. Compared with previous year’s period, this represents an increase in cash flow before financing activities of €720 million.

Cash flow from financing activities exhibited a cash outflow of €1,152 million (2019/20: cash outflow of €1,280 million). This includes redemptions of financial liabilities in the amount of €779 million, lease payments in the amount of €541 million and dividends paid in the amount of €254 million. This was offset by proceeds from financial liabilities, which amounted to €474 million.

Total cash flows amount to €−52 million (2019/20: €510 million). In the previous year, this amount included the proceeds from the disposal of the hypermarket business including the real estate portfolio and METRO China.

Cash flow statement1

€ million

2019/20

2020/21

Cash flow from operating activities of continuing operations

646

1,237

Cash flow from operating activities of discontinued operations

416

0

Cash flow from operating activities

1,062

1,237

Cash flow from investing activities of continuing operations

−265

−137

Cash flow from investing activities of discontinued operations

1,271

0

Cash flow from investing activities

1,006

−137

Cash flow before financing activities of continuing operations

380

1,100

Cash flow before financing activities of discontinued operations

1,687

0

Cash flow before financing activities

2,068

1,100

Cash flow from financing activities of continuing operations

−1,280

−1,152

Cash flow from financing activities of discontinued operations

−278

0

Cash flow from financing activities

−1,557

−1,152

Total cash flows

510

−52

Currency effects on cash and cash equivalents

−29

1

Total change in cash and cash equivalents

482

−51

1

Abridged version. The complete version is shown in the consolidated financial statements.

Previous year
Period of 12 months that is usually cited as a reference for statements in the annual report and refers to the financial year preceding the reporting year.
Glossary
Net working capital
The net working capital includes inventories, trade receivables and receivables due from suppliers included in the item other financial and non-financial assets. Trade liabilities are deducted from the total amount of these items.
Glossary