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[37] Trade accounts receivable 

Trade accounts receivable amounting to € 2,021.4 million (2012: € 2,114.6 million) only existed vis-à-vis third parties.

Trade accounts receivable past due were as follows:

XLS

 

 

 

€ million

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Neither past due nor impaired

1,542.1

1,556.9

Past due, but not impaired

 

 

up to 3 months

127.5

210.5

up to 6 months

6.5

24.7

up to 12 months

2.8

13.3

up to 24 months

3.4

6.6

over 2 years

0.4

3.6

Impaired

338.7

299.0

Carrying amount

2,021.4

2,114.6

The corresponding allowances developed as follows:

XLS

 

 

 

€ million

2013

2012

January 1

–154.8

–149.0

Additions

–46.5

–68.3

Reversals

42.1

42.4

Utilizations

20.1

20.6

Currency translation and other changes

2.3

–0.5

December 31

–136.8

–154.8

Due to the large number of products we offer, trade accounts receivable exist vis-à-vis a large number of customers. This diversification helps to reduce risk with respect to potential defaults on receivables. In addition, established credit management processes that take individual customer risks into account are used to assess the recoverability of receivables. If there are indications that individual trade accounts receivable are partly or fully impaired, corresponding allowances are recognized. Additions to allowances relate mainly to receivables from public hospitals and health care organizations in Italy and Spain.

In the period from January 1 to December 31, 2013 trade receivables in Italy and Spain with a nominal value of € 225.7 million were sold for € 215.9 million. Previous impairments in this context amounting to € 26.0 million were reversed and disclosed under other operating income. The sold receivables do not involve any further rights of recovery against Merck.

© Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Last Update 2014/03/06