All items on AGM agenda carried by large majority
Shareholders endorse work of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board
Bergisch Gladbach, July 1, 2009 - All items on the AGM agenda were today carried by a large majority of shareholders in SDAX-listed INDUS Holding AG, a company with diversified interests in mid-sized businesses. This means that the company will go ahead with the proposed dividend payment of EUR 0.80 per share (previous year: EUR 1.20). “Our payout ratio of 49 percent reflects a sound balance between letting our shareholders partake of the results of our successful financial year 2008 on the one hand and strengthening our equity base on the other,” said Helmut Ruwisch, Chairman of the Management Board of INDUS Holding AG, commenting on the continued turbulence in the company’s business environment.
Other motions carried by shareholders included an authorisation to acquire own shares and create authorised capital, the formal approval of the work of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board as well as the appointment of the auditors. A large majority of the AGM confirmed Burkhard Rosenfeld’s appointment as a member of the Supervisory Board. Mr Rosenfeld had served as court-appointed member on the Supervisory Board since November 2008 following the health-related resignation from the Supervisory Board by long-serving Supervisory Board Chairman Dr. Winfried Kill.
The persisting weakness in the economic environment continues to weigh on the operating performance of the currently 41 investee companies which are predominantly active in the construction, engineering, motor vehicles and consumer goods sectors. “While we posted a positive result, we are not satisfied with our business trend in the first quarter.” Helmut Ruwisch emphasised. “But we took early measures to adjust our set-up to the dramatically deteriorated economic situation.” These measures have included a continued flexibilisation of manpower structures, tight cost management as well as strict working capital management and a restrictive capital spending policy. Overall, Mr Ruwisch demonstrated optimism against the background of the massive economic crisis, saying: “Our business model based on broad diversification across a wide portfolio will prove its worth in this environment. In addition, we are now reaping the rewards of our solid and long-term oriented financing policy in prior years - even in years of crisis, INDUS can pursue an anticyclical strategy and act on opportunities to expand and restructure its portfolio with a view to sustained success in the future.”
back
