DGAP-News: KION GROUP AG / Key word(s): AGM/EGM KION Group to drive growth through digitalization - Annual General Meeting in Frankfurt (news with additional features) 09.05.2018 / 12:36 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Dividend set at EUR0.99 per share, an increase of 24 percent * All proposals from Supervisory Board and Executive Board approved with large majority * CEO Riske: "We are aligning our business to an increasingly digital world" Frankfurt, May 9, 2018 - The KION Group intends to step up its use of digital technologies in its efforts to continue driving profitable growth. "We are aligning our business to an increasingly digital world and developing our digitalization strategy," said the Chief Executive Officer of KION GROUP AG, Gordon Riske, at the Company's Annual General Meeting in Frankfurt on Wednesday. "The digitalization of customer solutions, which will even include fully automated warehouses incorporating robotics solutions, will be accompanied by the digitalization of our internal processes." Shareholders approved the Supervisory Board and Executive Board's proposals with a large majority, including a dividend of EUR0.99 per share. This is 24 percent higher than the dividend per share paid last year. In addition to the relocation of the Company's registered office according to the articles of association, following the relocation of the Group headquarters from Wiesbaden to Frankfurt at the end of 2017, the Annual General Meeting also approved a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement between KION GROUP AG (the controlling enterprise) and KION IoT Systems GmbH (the dependent company). IoT stands for Internet of Things - the term used to describe the fusion of the physical and virtual worlds that represents a genuine technological revolution. The approximately 130 shareholders at the Annual General Meeting represented almost 80 percent of the share capital. In his speech, the Chief Executive Officer stressed the importance of digitalization with examples of products the Company has already developed, as well as new initiatives. "Digitalization is not only becoming an increasingly prevalent part of everyone's lives, but has also been firmly established in our industry for some time- and of course that includes the products of KION's brand companies," said Riske. To illustrate his point he mentioned the Truck Call app from Linde Material Handling, which allows fleet managers to assign orders to trucks digitally. STILL's nexxtFleet system presents all relevant data about an industrial truck fleet in a clear and easy-to-read form, and provides accurate analyses for the purpose of optimization. Dematic's computer-based iQ Sprocket maintenance system is a flexible solution that assists customers with their maintenance requirements. Outlining some of the initiatives in this area, the CEO highlighted the KION Digital Campus, which opened at the start of the year. "The aim is to provide an innovative working environment where we can drive forward the process of digitalizing the KION Group," he explained, adding that other focal points will include direct collaboration with customers and the transfer of digital expertise within the Group. He also spoke about KION IoT Systems GmbH, another strand of the Company's digital strategy. This is a team of software and app developers, test engineers, and system architects that has recently joined KION and has all the skills and expertise required to develop innovative digital applications, from the generation of ideas to the final implementation. Digitalization is a central element of the KION 2027 strategy, which was unveiled in March and follows on from Strategy 2020, launched in 2014. Strategic fields of action include digital solutions and processes, energy efficiency, new energy systems, and automation solutions. They are based on a firmly established innovation culture and agile development processes within the Group, and on high-performing products and efficient processes. Positive outlook for 2018 Turning to the prospects for the current year, the CEO said that in 2018 the Company aimed to build on its successful performance last year. "Based on the forecasts for market growth, we will be seeking to achieve further increases in order intake, revenue, and adjusted EBIT." The Group confirmed its outlook for the year. Website: kiongroup.com/mediasite Twitter: @kion_group The Company The KION Group is a global leader in industrial trucks, related services and supply chain solutions. Across more than 100 countries worldwide, the KION Group designs, builds and supports logistics solutions that optimize material and information flow within factories, warehouses and distribution centers. The Group is the largest manufacturer of industrial trucks in Europe, the second-largest producer of forklifts globally and a leading provider of warehouse automation. The KION Group's world-renowned brands are clear industry leaders. Dematic, the newest addition to the KION Group, is a global leader in automated material handling, providing a comprehensive range of intelligent supply chain and automation solutions. The Linde and STILL brands serve the premium industrial truck segment. Baoli focuses on industrial trucks in the economy segment. Among KION's regional industrial truck brand companies, Fenwick is the largest supplier of material handling products in France, while OM STILL is a market leader in Italy, and OM Voltas is a leading provider of industrial trucks in India. With an installed base of more than 1.3 million industrial trucks and over 6,000 installed systems, the KION Group's customer base includes companies in all industries and of all sizes on six continents. The Group has more than 32,000 employees and generated revenue of around EUR7.7 billion in 2017. Disclaimer This document and the information contained herein are for information purposes only and do not constitute a prospectus or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, e.g. changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, results of technical studies, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. We do not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release. Further information for the media Michael Hauger Senior Vice President Corporate Communications Tel: +49 (0)69 201 107 655 Mobile: +49 (0)151 1686 5550 [email protected] Frank Brandmaier Senior Director Corporate Media Relations Tel: +49 (0)69 201 107 752 [email protected] Further information for investors Dr Karoline Jung-Senssfelder Vice President, Head of Investor Relations and M&A Tel: +49 (0)69 201 107 450 [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional features: Document: http://n.eqs.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=TTTVLVIESA Document title: Download press release as PDF --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 09.05.2018 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: KION GROUP AG Thea-Rasche-Straße 8 60549 Frankfurt/Main Germany Phone: +49 69 20110-0 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.kiongroup.com ISIN: DE000KGX8881 WKN: KGX888 Indices: MDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 684255 09.05.2018