DGAP-News: TAKKT AG / Key word(s): AGM/EGM/Dividend TAKKT Shareholders' Meeting: Dividend policy a sign of continuity 06.05.2014 / 13:09 --------------------------------------------------------------------- TAKKT Shareholders' Meeting: Dividend policy a sign of continuity Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart, Germany, May 06, 2014. The Shareholders' Meeting of TAKKT AG today approved the payment of an unchanged dividend of EUR 0.32 per share. Despite a challenging economic environment in 2013 due to acquisition effects, the TAKKT Group achieved turnover growth of 1.3 percent and presented solid figures. The Shareholders' Meeting approved all the items on the agenda - including the discharging of the Management and Supervisory Boards for the 2013 financial year - by a large majority. In addition, the shareholders granted a new authorization until 2019 to acquire treasury shares for up to 10 percent of share capital. In addition, they authorized the creation of new approved capital of approximately EUR 32.8 million. With the adoption of the unchanged total distribution of EUR 21 million, the dividend amounts to EUR 0.32 per no-par-value bearer share, the same as in the previous year. The payout ratio for 2013 amounts to 40 percent of the profit for the period of EUR 52.5 million. In addition, it was announced today that Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board Prof. Dr Klaus Trützschler will resign from his post on the Supervisory Board of TAKKT AG effective June 30, 2014. The Supervisory Board is confident that it will ensure a sound succession in the near future. Discussions are already being held with competent candidates for this position. Solid performance thanks to a diversification strategy In the 2013 financial year, the TAKKT Group continued to be affected by economic weakness in the eurozone, although there were signs of a recovery over the course of the year. "Despite the challenging economic environment, we were able to achieve a satisfactory result - in large part thanks to the joint efforts of all our employees and due to the diversification of our core business across different product ranges, sales regions and marketing channels. Although the more conservative scenario of our forecast in spring 2013 materialized, we performed comparatively well," remarked CEO Dr Felix Zimmermann about the 2013 financial year at the Shareholders' Meeting. DYNAMIC initiative: Investing in change and growth In 2013, the TAKKT Group proceeded with the DYNAMIC strategic initiative. Along with modernizing its business model, particularly in the areas of marketing and IT, the Group wants to generate additional growth stimulus through DYNAMIC. TAKKT sees attractive opportunities here, particularly in its product range. TAKKT wants to expand its product range in a targeted manner and noticeably increase the share of turnover attributable to private and/or performance brands. The activities related to DYNAMIC will lead to expenses that will not yet be fully offset by income in 2014. This effect could reduce the Group's EBITDA margin in 2014 by about 0.5 percentage points. For 2014 and the coming years, TAKKT expects the capital expenditure ratio to be at the upper end of the long-term targeted corridor of between one and two percent of turnover - or slightly higher. Sustainability as part of the business model In the 2013 financial year, TAKKT also made significant progress toward its goal of becoming a role model in terms of sustainability in its industry by 2016. With the integration of relevant sustainability criteria in the existing supplier evaluation program, the company wants to systematically record, document and improve sustainability in its supply chain. In a pilot project in 2013, 20 suppliers of KAISER+KRAFT have successfully tested this evaluation process. Over the medium term, all suppliers with a relevant purchase volume should be documented in this way. Progress regarding sustainability is also evident in other focus areas identified by the TAKKT Group: For example, paper consumption per million euros of turnover has been reduced since 2011 by 29 percent. In addition, it was possible to reduce CO2 emissions per kilogram of paper advertising materials by 34 percent since 2011. In March, TAKKT published its 2014 Sustainability Report, which provides an overview of the status of all sustainability measures. The 2014 Sustainability Report has achieved the "Advanced Level" according to the Global Compact of the United Nations. The focus of this level is on implementing and observing ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and combating corruption in operational business. Currently, TAKKT is one of only eleven German companies that have been awarded this status. Outlook confirmed TAKKT got off to a good start in 2014. In Europe, the economic recovery that began in the previous year continued. In North America, overall conditions were also positive. After the first quarter of 2014, TAKKT continues to anticipate a performance in line with the most likely forecast scenario in the 2013 annual report. Here the TAKKT Group continues to assume improved GDP growth rates compared to 2013 and PMI values well above the threshold of 50 points. As Zimmermann elaborated, "Based on this, we overall expect organic turnover growth for 2014 of between three and five percent and an EBITDA margin in the mid-range of our self-imposed corridor of 12 to 15 percent." About TAKKT AG TAKKT is the leading B2B direct marketing specialist for business equipment in Europe and North America. The Group is represented with its brands in more than 25 countries. The product range of the TAKKT subsidiaries comprises more than 200,000 products for the areas of plant and warehouse equipment, classic and design-oriented office furniture and accessories, transport packaging, display articles, supplies for retailers, the food service industry and the hotel market. The TAKKT Group has over 2,500 employees and more than three million customers worldwide. TAKKT AG is listed on the SDAX and has been in the Deutsche Boerse Prime Standard since January 1, 2003. Contacts: Dr Felix A. Zimmermann, CEO Tel. +49 711 3465-8201 Dr Claude Tomaszewski, CFO Tel. +49 711 3465-8207 Email: [email protected] End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 06.05.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: TAKKT AG Presselstr. 12 70191 Stuttgart Germany Phone: +49 (0)711 346 58 -0 Fax: +49 (0)711 346 58 - 10 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.takkt.de ISIN: DE0007446007 WKN: 744600 Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Stuttgart; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 266603 06.05.2014