Business performance and results in 2017

Definition of APMs

In the preparation of the financial information that is reported internally and externally, the Directors of DIA have adopted a series of Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) in order to gain a better understanding of the business performance. These APMs have been chosen according to the company's activity profile and taking into account the information of business performance commonly published by other international peers. Nevertheless, these APMs may or may not be totally comparable with those of other companies in the same industry. In all cases, APMs should be considered as data that are not intended to replace (or be superior to) IFRS measurements.

The purpose of these APMs is to assist in the understanding of the business performance by providing additional useful information about the underlying performance of the activity and financial position of the company.

APMs are also used to enhance the comparability of information between reporting periods and geographical units by adjusting for other cost and revenue items or uncontrollable factors that affect IFRS measures. APMs are therefore used by Directors and management for performance analysis, planning, reporting, and incentive-setting purposes.

CHANGES TO APMs

During the period, the company has changed the wording of some APMs to adopt the recommendations of the ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authorities). Accordingly, the former expression “Non-recurring items” has been rephrased to “Other items excluded from adjusted EBIT”. In accordance with this change, the old expressions “Non-recurring cash items” and “Non-recurring non-cash items” have been also adapted to the new wording “Other cash items” and “Other non-cash items” respectively.

In 2017, the calculation of “Other cash-items” includes gains on the disposal of non-current assets due to the accounting of this item as “Other income” in the consolidated P&L accounts. This modification, introduced in full compliance with IFRS, better reflects the cash impact of “Other items excluded from adjusted EBIT”.