Stable results in container transport at the previous year's level and successful real estate management led to revenue of EUR 1.29 billion (+3.1%). The operating result (EBIT) was up on the previous year, as expenses totalling around EUR 25 million for the organizational restructuring and harmonization of the pension systems were not incurred in 2017. However, even adjusted for this effect, the operating result (EBIT) increased moderately.

Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of HHLA's Executive Board: "The strong results for the 2018 financial year underline that our strategy is paying off. We were able to further strengthen HHLA's solid foundation. All segments and the terminal operator HHLA TK Estonia, which has been successfully integrated into the HHLA family, contributed to this. In an ever faster changing world, a solid foundation is important. However, this alone is not enough to generate further growth. We will therefore resolutely and consistently implement our strategy aimed at strengthening HHLA's creative power and future viability. To this end, we will continuously invest in the quality and profitability of our core business and identify and drive forward new growth areas, particularly digital ones. The aim is always to offer our customers the best solution so that they can transport their goods safely, quickly and efficiently. And it is also about increasing HHLA's enterprise value for our shareholders. We therefore remain committed to our ambitious growth targets."

Outlook 2019

HHLA expects a slight increase in container throughput in 2019 due to the takeover of North American services and the first full-year consolidation of handling volumes at the container terminal HHLA TK Estonia AS (formerly Transiidikeskuse AS). Container transport is also expected to increase slightly compared to the previous year. At Group level, this should lead to a slight increase in revenue. The operating result (EBIT) of the Port Logistics subgroup is expected to increase significantly in 2019 compared to the previous year, mainly due to the change in lease accounting (IFRS 16) from 2019. The subgroup's earnings performance will be largely determined by the Container and Intermodal segments. EBIT in the Container segment is expected to remain stable at the previous year's level, while the Intermodal segment is expected to see a significant increase.

Port Logistics subgroup

The listed Port Logistics subgroup generated revenue of EUR 1.26 billion in the 2018 financial year (previous year: EUR 1.22 billion) and an operating result (EBIT) of EUR 188 million (previous year: EUR 157 million) thanks to the increase in container throughput and results in container transport at the previous year's level. Due to lower minority interests following the acquisition of the outstanding shares in Metrans, the net profit for the year attributable to Class A shareholders increased by 44.5% to EUR 102.9 million (previous year: EUR 71.2 million).

Dividend proposal for 2018

At the Annual General Meeting on June 18, 2019, the Management Board and Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of EUR 0.80 per dividend-bearing Class A share (previous year: EUR 0.67). This would increase the dividend by 19.4% compared to the previous year. The payout ratio of 54% is once again within the target range of 50% to 70%.