(12) Trade receivables



in th. euros   31.12.2008   31.12.2007  
    short-term   long-term   short-term   long-term  
Trade receivables, gross   191,218   366   191,995   264  
Valuation allowances   2,816   0   2,683   0  
Trade receivables   188,402   366   189,312   264  

The maturity structure of the short-term trade receivables on the balance sheet date is as follows:

in th. euros Carrying
amount		 Individ-
ually adjusted
in full or
in part		 Valuation
allow-
ance		 Consoli-
dated individu-
al value
adjust-
ment		 Not
overdue and not
value-
adjusted		     Overdue    
            less
than 30
days		 between
31 and
60 days		 between
61 and
90 days		 between
91 and
180 days		 between
181 and
360 days
31.12.2008
Trade receivables		 188,402 1,155 1,074 1,742 134,440 48,185 5,334 1,597 507 0
31.12.2007
Trade receivables		 189,312 1,129 979 1,704 128,591 50,184 9,001 1,786 1,238 66

The company allows the time for payment usual in the industry and country. With respect to trade receivables that are neither impaired nor overdue, there is no evidence as of the balance sheet date to suggest that the debtors will not meet their payment obligations.

The company's receivables are not collateralised. The company thus bears the risk that bad debts equal to the carrying amounts of the receivables could be incurred. In the past, the company has had to tolerate bad debts of minor significance on the part of individual customers or customer groups. In order to cover the general credit risk, appropriate valuation allowances are performed based on past experience.

The following is a statement of changes in valuation allowances on trade receivables:

in th. euros   2008   2007
Situation of valuation allowances as of 1 Janaury   2,683   2,430
Exchange differences/Consolidation   44   39
Transfers (Expenses for valuation allowances)   805   732
Utilisation   203   287
Dissolutions   513   231
Situation of valuation allowances as of 31 December   2,816   2,683

The total sum of the transfer in the amount of 805 thousand euros (prior year: 732 thousand euros) is composed of transfers for individual valuation allowances amounting to 501 thousand euros (prior year: 456 thousand euros) and lumpsum individual valuation allowances of 304 thousand euros (prior year: 276 thousand euros).

The immediate derecognition of trade receivables resulted in expenses in the amount of 392 thousand euros (prior year: 317 thousand euros). There is only negligible income from the recovery of derecognised receivables.

In accordance with the requirements of IFRS 7, trade receivables are, as in the prior year, allocated in full to the category “Trade receivables”.