Annual Report 2009/10 Excellence in Retailing - Douglas Holding

110 Divisions
Service Divisions and Companies
SERVICE DIVISIONS AND COMPANIES
The DOUGLAS Group employs some 1,200 women and men at its administrative headquarters in Hagen – in the
holding company’s service divisions, the subsidiaries’ service centers and the independently managed service
companies. Their functions and areas of responsibility are as follows:
DOUGLAS HOLDING Service Divisions
The Controlling department promotes the DOUGLAS Group’s
value-oriented development by making contributions to the planning
process, issuing monthly forecasts and providing financial oversight of
the Group’s investment activities.
The Finance section is charged with drawing up the Group’s annu-
al accounts. It also ensures adherence to – and the implementation of
– the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), while securing
the resources needed by the Group and the liquidity of its subsidiaries.
The Investor Relations and Communication sections actively
supply shareholders, the media and the financial markets with the
accurate and up-to-date information that they require.
Group Development advises the Executive Board and subsidiary
managers on commercial strategy, methods of optimizing corporate
processes, and marketing and merchandising concepts.
Group Auditing & Risk Management assists the Executive Board
by coordinating the DOUGLAS Group’s risk management functions
and performing independent reviews of the internal controlling systems
at all of the Group’s domestic and international divisions.
Mergers & Acquisitions supports the Executive Board and subsidiary
managements in the fields of investment and disinvestment.
Human Resources & Administration coordinates core issues
relating to personnel strategy and group-wide projects such as staff
surveys and employee share issues.
Legal & Corporate Affairs is responsible for all legal affairs – extending
from acquisitions through to trademark law.
The Taxes & Consulting unit provides comprehensive advice to
consolidated companies on taxation matters.
Service Centers
The service centers of the subsidiaries pool functions such
as marketing, purchasing, controlling and logistics to support the
subsidiaries in their day-to-day operations.
Service Companies
DOUGLAS Corporate Service GmbH (DCS) is an in-house pro-
vider of financial, accounting and payroll services to many of the
Group’s companies. It is also responsible for the standardization
of the Group’s financial accounts and their compliance with IFRS. It
optimizes the systems used in finance and accounting, and manages
their processes efficiently.
DOUGLAS Informatik & Service GmbH (DIS) ensures the effec-
tive use of information technology in the DOUGLAS Group’s business
processes. Moreover it is responsible for tapping any potential syner-
gies – particularly those in the areas of enterprise resource planning
and information, finances and customer relationship management.
It also operates the IT center and telecommunications systems and
runs a service center providing computing support to Group stores
around the world.
DOUGLAS Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG acquires rental properties
in Germany and beyond for the Group. It also manages and optimizes
its real estate portfolio including the 2,000+ current property
agreements. Finally it handles all financial transactions relevant
to real estate and is responsible for project supervision on major
investments.
EKV Einkaufsverbund GMBH and EEG Energie-Einkaufsverbund
GMBH generate cost benefits for the DOUGLAS Group by
pooling orders for non-merchandise goods and negotiating service
agreements for multiple divisions. Its activities are focused on utilities
(in the German-speaking countries), telecommunications, office
supplies and maintenance work. It also manages the office building
at the Group’s service headquarters in Hagen.
DOUGLAS Versicherungsvermittlung GmbH (DVV) is the
Group’s go-to agency for all insurance issues. It negotiates all the
policies for the German subsidiaries and handles any claims centrally.
It also offers optional advisory services to the foreign subsidiaries.
DOUGLAS Leasing GmbH manages the vehicle fleet with the
purpose of optimizing costs and generating synergistic benefits for
the Group.