• EUR 0.48 profit participation per share
• Dr Wolfgang Höper replaces Helmut Ruwisch on Supervisory Board
• Board of Management holds out prospect of continuing growth trajectory

Münster/Sassenberg, May 12, 2016 – technotrans AG is letting its shareholders participate in the excellent business performance in 2015: on Thursday, the Annual General Meeting approved a substantial 45 percent increase in the dividend to EUR 0.48 per dividend-bearing no par value share. The Board of Management reaffirmed the growth targets set for the current financial year. The Annual General Meeting also passed resolutions on two matters relating to Supervisory Board members.

“The past financial year of 2015 was overall very successful for our employees and shareholders,” declared Henry Brickenkamp, Chief Executive Officer of technotrans AG, in his speech. Revenue and profit were up for the second year in a row, with no external boost from acquisitions. Some performance indicators even saw technotrans better its own forecast. For example the company had increased revenue by 9.3 percent to EUR 122.8 million, and operating profit (EBIT) grew 31.1 percent to EUR 9.0 million. Below the line, the company reported a consolidated profit of EUR 6.3 million (plus 42.9 percent).

“Even if the global economic environment currently presents us with particular challenges, we are still optimistic about maintaining our growth trajectory,” stressed Brickenkamp. Thanks to the new, broad operating base he described the company as better equipped to handle crises and realise growth. Within the next two to three years, the Board of Management identifies potential for revenue to grow to around EUR 150 million. This is before potential takeovers are factored in. “It remains our intention to accelerate our growth through suitable acquisitions,” declared Brickenkamp.

Dividend significantly increased
“We want you, too, to share in the success of the past financial year,” proclaimed Chief Financial Officer Dirk Engel. By a large majority the Annual General Meeting adopted the proposal of the Board of Management and Supervisory Board to distribute half of the consolidated profit, maintaining the tradition of recent years. The participation in profit thus rose by 45 percent compared with 2015, from EUR 0.33 to EUR 0.48 per dividend-bearing no par value share. This represents a dividend yield of 2.7 percent.

Two members of the Supervisory Board had reached the end of their term of office at the meeting. As of the close of the Annual General Meeting, the term of office of the elected shareholder representatives Helmut Ruwisch and Dieter Schäfer ended. The latter was re-elected for a further term. 67-year-old Ruwisch was no longer available to serve as a result of having reached the age limit. “We would like to thank Mr Ruwisch for his successful involvement and wish him all the best for the future,” commented Heinz Harling, Supervisory Board Chairman. The Annual General Meeting elected independent entrepreneur Dr. Wolfgang Höper as new member of the board.    

The Annual General Meeting also voted in favour of the remaining agenda items by a large majority (discharge of Board of Management and Supervisory Board as well as election of the auditors of the annual financial statements and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2016). 

A recording of the Annual General Meeting and the presentations of the speakers are available on the technotrans website, under Investor Relations/Shareholders’ Meeting.