EANS-News: Annual Shareholders´ Meeting 2009: WACKER Sees Long-Term Opportunities for further Growth
- Executive and Supervisory Boards proposals adopted by large majority of Sharholders - Dividend for 2008 is 1.80 - Continuátion of strategic investments in growth segments
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Munich (euro adhoc) - May 8, 2009 - Despite the current recession, Wacker Chemie AG still sees good long-term opportunities for further growth in its fields of activity. Rudolf Staudigl, CEO of the Munich-based chemical company, underscored this point at WACKER´s 2009 Annual Shareholders´ Meeting. "We have a unique product portfolio, particularly for conserving and sustainably generating energy. Whether in building insulation or the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power, WACKER helps save energy and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions," he said. According to Staudigl, WACKER has further growth opportunities thanks to increasing global digitization and rising standards of living in emerging economies. This is why the Group plans to continue its strategic investment program.
Of 2008´s retained profit of EUR576.9 million (2007: EUR1.09bn), WACKER is paying out a total of EUR89.4 million (2007: EUR149.0m) to its shareholders. The dividend per dividend-bearing share is EUR1.80 (2007: EUR2.25). Last year, there was an additional special bonus of EUR0.75 per share. The Executive and Supervisory Boards´ other proposals were also adopted by large majorities.
In 2008, WACKER posted new record figures for both sales and earnings. Sales rose 14 percent to EUR4.3 billion last fiscal year (2007: EUR3.8bn). EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) rose by over 5 percent to EUR1.06 billion (2007: EUR1.00bn).
Since Q4 2008, the global recession has been increasingly impacting WACKER´s financial figures. In Q1 2009, sales declined 14 percent year on year to EUR872.5 million (2008: EUR1,019.5m). EBITDA dropped to EUR157.8 million (2007: EUR291.1m). The Group´s polysilicon business made the largest contribution to Q1 2009 sales and earnings. WACKER POLYSILICON´s sales crossed the EUR300 million mark in a single quarter for the first time ever and EBITDA rose 136 percent. Nevertheless, sales and earnings declined significantly at all other divisions. For full-year 2009, WACKER is expecting markedly lower sales and operational earnings compared with the prior-year figures.
"WACKER cannot escape the global economic downturn. However, we are able to mitigate its effects on us," stressed CEO Rudolf Staudigl at the Annual Shareholders´ Meeting in Munich on Friday. "That is why we took action beginning from the second half of 2008 by implementing a package of measures to cut costs, strengthen cash inflow and realign production to match reduced demand. WACKER is active in numerous business fields and serves a wide range of sectors. This enables us to balance risks - an advantage in times like these. The major megatrends from which we profit remain unchanged. This is why I am optimistic that we can resume our charted growth path once the global economy has come out of recession."
Resolutions and Voting Results At today´s Annual Shareholders´ Meeting, 39,593,554 voting shares were represented - 75.92 percent of all eligible shares (number of shares outstanding: 49,677,983). The voting results were as follows for agenda topics 2 through 6:
Topic 2: Resolution on the Appropriation of Net Retained Profit The Executive and Supervisory Boards proposed net retained profit for fiscal 2008, amounting to EUR577 million, be appropriated as follows: EUR89.4 million to be paid to shareholders and EUR487.6 million to be carried forward to new account. The proposal was adopted. The result was: - 39,577,980 Yes votes (99.99 percent) - 4,630 No votes
Topic 3: Resolution on the Ratification of the Actions of the Executive Board The proposal of the Executive and Supervisory Boards to ratify the acts of the members of Wacker Chemie AG´s Executive Board during fiscal 2008 was adopted. The result was: - 39,428,888 Yes votes (99.89 percent) - 42,726 No votes
Topic 4: Resolution on the Ratification of the Actions of the Supervisory Board The Executive and Supervisory Boards´ proposal to ratify the acts of the members of Wacker Chemie AG´s Supervisory Board during fiscal 2008 was adopted. The result was: - 39,435,363 Yes votes (99.89 percent) - 43,202 No votes
Topic 5: Resolution on the Appointment of Auditor The Supervisory Board´s proposal to appoint KPMG as auditor for fiscal 2009 was adopted. The result was: - 39,492,821 Yes votes (99.88 percent) - 48,352 No votes
Topic 6: Authorization to Acquire Treasury Shares The Executive and Supervisory Boards´ proposal to authorize the Executive Board to acquire treasury shares representing up to 10 percent of the current share capital was adopted. The result was: - 38,626,078 Yes votes (97.68 percent) - 915,453 No votes
Information for editorial offices: All documents relating to Wacker Chemie AG´s 2009 Annual Shareholders´ Meeting can be downloaded from WACKER´s website (www.wacker.com) under Investor Relations.
This press release contains statements about the resolutions of the 2009 Annual Shareholders´ Meeting. Said statements are not binding and serve the sole purpose of providing an overview. They may not always correspond to the exact wording and full extent of the resolutions adopted at the Annual Shareholders´ Meeting.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates of WACKER´s Executive Board. Although we assume the expectations in these forward-looking statements are realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual figures to differ considerably from the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among other things, changes in the economic and business environment, variations in exchange and interest rates, the introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance for new products or services, and changes in corporate strategy. WACKER does not plan to update the forward-looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do so.
end of announcement euro adhoc --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further inquiry note:
Christof Bachmair
Media Relations & Information
Tel.: +49 (0)89 6279 1830
E-Mail: christof.bachmair@wacker.com
Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
Index: Midcap Market Index, MDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX,
Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Original content of: Wacker Chemie AG, transmitted by news aktuell