Technical Glossary
Commercial / General Glossary
Accruals Liability items in the balance sheet. The purpose of accruals is to take into account demands for payment that are already identifiable at the balance sheet date but for which the amount and/or due date are still uncertain.
Advanced engineering Product development from research to early stage of serial development.
Aftermarket Sale of products to independent market: in spare part business parallel with or following series production.
Asset-backed security (ABS) In an asset-backed security transaction, a company sells parts of its receivables portfolio to a company, which, in turn, refinances itself by issuing marketable securities (asset-backed securities).
Base rate An interest rate set by the central bank to be used as a basis for refinancing in the interbank money market and credit business with non-banks.
Best practice Method for success: Anglo-American business term. When a company acts according to best practice, it uses proven, cost-effective processes, technical systems, and business processes, which make it an industrial model for others, at least in the major fields of activity.
BRIC countries Acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China. These countries are generally regarded as major emerging growth markets.
Collective agreement Umbrella term for works and labor agreements.
Consolidation group Comprises the parent company and all subsidiaries and participations that must be considered in accordance with the regulations of the HGB on the date on which the consolidated financial statements are drawn up. Corporate citizenship Social, ecological, and cultural commitment of a company and its employees in the interests of public welfare. This term expresses the recognition of a company's responsibility to the community. Currency exchange rate effects Effect of the changes in exchange rates on the items in the balance sheet and profit and loss statement. Foreign currency exchange rate effects arise from the timing difference, in the conversion of currencies, between the signing and the execution of transactions not processed in the reporting currency (transaction effect) and from the conversion of the financial statements of the subsidiaries operating abroad (translation effect). Domestic demand The term 'domestic demand' describes the demand for consumer and investment goods within a domestic market from private households, companies, and the state. Thus, together with the imports and exports, the domestic demand defines the overall demand for goods within a national economy. Driven by performance The slogan in the MAHLE logo reflects MAHLE's performance ability and strengthens the brand's image of competence worldwide.
Due diligence process This refers to the due diligence with which equity holdings or real estate are audited prior to their acquisition. It includes, in particular, a systematic analysis of strengths and weaknesses and an in-depth valuation of the equity holding or real estate. In addition, the risks connected with the purchase are analyzed. The audits cover, for example, balance sheets, human and material resources, strategic positioning, legal and financial risks, and environmental liabilities.
Emerging markets Group of countries that are traditionally still regarded as developing countries but, because of their economic performance, no longer exhibit the typical characteristics of developing countries, yet cannot be classed among the industrialized countries. Therefore a separate term is used. E-recruiting Electronic job application and steering system that contains online and classic applications as well as the process of handling the application until the final decision.
Executive Excellence Program (EEP) / International Development Program (IDP) / Management Development Program (MDP) MAHLE internal personnel development programs for executives.
First consolidation First consideration of Group member companies in the balance sheet of the absorbing subsidiary (usually if holding exceeds 50%).
German Corporate Governance Code Basic statutory standards for the management and for monitoring of German companies listed on the Stock Exchange (corporate governance). It comprises internationally and nationally recognized standards of good and responsible corporate governance.
Gross domestic product (GDP) Measure of the economic performance of a national economy during a specified period. It measures the value of the goods and services (added value) produced within the country, except those treated as intermediate consumption for the production of other goods and services.
Gross investments into fixed assets They consist of the acquisition of new assets and the net of purchases and sales of used assets. The fixed assets include produced property, plant, and equipment (buildings, machines, vehicles, etc.) and produced intangible fixed assets (software, copyrights, etc.) that are used in the production process repeatedly or continuously for more than a year.International Executive Meeting (IEM) All worldwide MAHLE executives meet twice a year to work on upcoming topics.
Investment ratio Ratio of investments to consolidated sales.
Joint venture/majority joint venture Business entity which is operated jointly by two or more companies on the basis of a cooperation agreement. In a majority joint venture, one company holds a higher percentage of the shares in the joint venture than the other partners.
Lead buyer concept Concept in which one buyer is globally responsible for a certain material group. MAHLE Formare education project Social project in Brazil where children from poor and unprivileged families can attend a school and professional training at MAHLE. MAHLE Foundation Main stake holder of MAHLE GmbH. Founded by the brothers Hermann and Dr. Ernst Mahle in 1964 and supports, among others, social projects, anthroposophic schooling and biodynamic farming. MAHLE INSIDE The MAHLE company exhibition, opened in September 2008, shows the Group, its products, history, employees, and its committment in motorsports. MAHLE Skill Navigator An online system with which MAHLE employees can conduct trainings on their own responsibility and thus enhance their qualification.
Memorandum of Understanding Document signed by the parties for a contract yet to be concluded, which establishes its key points. Normally, it is only a statement of intent without binding legal force.
NAFTA Acronym for the free trade zone founded on January 1, 1994—North American Free Trade Agreement. Its members are the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.
Organic growth Part of the growth (of a company) resulting from internal forces and not from acquisitions.
Price adjustment clause Contractual agreement in which the establishment of the final price to be paid is made dependent on the price development of certain cost elements (e.g., raw material prices, labor costs, etc.). Product line Organizational subdivision of the MAHLE Group combining the business activities of similar product groups with a focus on customers.
Profit center Organizational subdivision for which the profit for the period is calculated separately. Profit centers usually operate as independent companies, with the aim of earning as high a profit as possible (profit responsibility). REACH EU chemical regulation that requires registration of all chemicals placed on the market in the EU and applies to both producers and importers based in the EU. The registration forms the basis for a formal evaluation, authorization, or restriction process for each substance placed on the market. Real economy Refers to the part of a national economy that produces real goods and services and, together with the financial economy, forms the entire economy. Return on investment Earning power calculated as the ratio of profit to fixed capital.
Synergy effects Positive effect arising from the merger or collaboration of companies or the interaction of production factors.
Value-at-risk Method for risk quantification. This is used to calculate the expected value of a loss that may occur, in the event of an unfavorable market development, with a specified probability within a defined period of time.
Technical Glossary
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