[15] Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net income accruing to the KION GROUP AG shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the reporting period (2018: 117,917,578 no-par-value shares; 2017: 114,328,999 no-par-value shares). The net income accruing to the shareholders of KION GROUP AG was €399.9 million (2017: €420.9 million); information about determining the net income (loss) accruing to the KION GROUP AG shareholders can be found in the consolidated income statement. Basic earnings per share for the reporting period came to €3.39 (2017: €3.68). The 165,558 no-par-value treasury shares repurchased by KION GROUP AG were not included in this figure as at 31 December 2018 (31 December 2017: 160,829).

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adding the potential dilutive no-par-value shares that employees can obtain for free under the employee share option programme (KEEP) to the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the reporting period. The calculation of diluted earnings per share was based on a weighted average of 117,935,296 no-par-value shares issued (2017: 114,356,934 no-par-value shares). Diluted earnings per share for the reporting period came to €3.39 (2017: €3.68).