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TAKKT AGM approves dividend of EUR 0.32 per share - Sustainability Update presented
 

Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart, Germany, 07 May 2013. The Annual General Meeting of TAKKT AG today approved the payment of a dividend of EUR 0.32 per share. In the financial year 2012, the TAKKT Group achieved turnover growth of 10.3 percent due to acquisitions and, despite the weak European economy, was able to report pleasing earnings figures. TAKKT also presented its Sustainability Update at the AGM.

The AGM approved all the items on the agenda - including the discharging of the Management and Supervisory Boards for the financial year 2012 - by a large majority. Furthermore, the shareholders elected Stephan Gemkow, Chairman of the Management Board of Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH, to the Supervisory Board of TAKKT AG. Mr Gemkow was appointed as a member of the Supervisory Board by the decision of the Stuttgart local court on 14 January 2013, and elected as its Chairman on 01 February 2013. He succeeds Prof. Dr Klaus Trützschler, who holds the position of Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board since 01 February 2013.

With the dividend of EUR 0.32 per share, the TAKKT Group will pay out around EUR 21 million. The payout ratio is around 31 percent of the profit of EUR 67 million for the financial year 2012, and consequently is consistent with the Group's long-term dividend policy.

Further development of sales and marketing strategy
'We have made important strategic progress for TAKKT in the financial year 2012 and taken a crucial step forward in terms of further developing our business model. It was a successful year for TAKKT, despite the difficult economic environment in Europe,' noted CEO Dr Felix A. Zimmermann at the AGM. Above all, the Group has made progress in its project to further develop its marketing and sales channels step by step. 'Our goal is to evolve step by step from a direct marketing company to an integrated multi-channel business. To this end, we have started a Group-wide strategic initiative and are on a good course', summarised Zimmermann. The TAKKT Group also further diversified its portfolio with the acquisition of GPA (TAKKT AMERICA division) and Ratioform (TAKKT EUROPE), diversifying from a product perspective and largely in terms of its sales channels. Overall, TAKKT was able to increase its turnover in the financial year 2012 by 10.3 percent to EUR 939.9 million. The earnings figures also showed a similarly positive trend.

Added value via acquisitions and concentration
TAKKT wants to continue this successful diversification of the portfolio in the future. Other acquisitions are also under consideration here in addition to the regional roll-out of successful business models to new markets. The acquisition of established players in attractive niche markets is a central component of the growth strategy. In addition to growth and diversification, the Group benefits from the expertise that new acquisitions bring to the corporate group. On the other hand, however, TAKKT also works critically to develop the existing portfolio. If an activity is unable to fulfil the expectations placed on it in the long term, management reviews all strategic options based on a positive understanding of corporate responsibility. As an example, last year this led to the closure of Furnandi, cateringplanet.com and gaerner Spain.

Development of e-commerce
The e-commerce business again performed above average in 2012 and achieved a share of 25.7 percent of order intake. TAKKT customers place great value on advice, quality and service, and are looking for reliability and added value in the provider of their choice. For this reason, TAKKT will continue to differentiate itself, also in e-commerce, from pure transaction platforms and online marketplaces by offering added services and advise.

On course in terms of sustainability
At last year's AGM in May 2012, TAKKT presented a sustainability report for the first time - one that was certified 'C+' according to the GRI classification. Furthermore, TAKKT set itself the goal of becoming the worldwide role model for sustainability in its industry by 2016. 'We have already made good progress towards integrating sustainability into our entire value chain and anchoring it within the organisation', said Dr Zimmermann, noting the progress in the area of sustainability. TAKKT has summarised the results achieved so far in a progress report, which can be accessed from today on the TAKKT website.

Outlook
In the first quarter of 2013, the turnover and earnings situation of TAKKT Group continued to be influenced by the weakness of the European economy. In line with expectations, the trend was more positive for the Group's North American business. Thanks to the acquisitions in 2012, consolidated turnover increased by 5.9 percent, acquisition- and currency-adjusted, it fell by 9.5 percent due to market conditions. For 2013 as a whole, the Management Board is keeping to the three forecast scenarios presented in the annual report 2012, while still assessing the middle scenario as the most likely. Here, the Management Board envisages unchanged or slightly improved GDP growth rates in Europe and North America and expects TAKKT to achieve acquisition- and currency-adjusted turnover growth of between one and three percent in the current financial year and an EBITDA margin in the upper third of the target corridor of 12 to 15 percent.

Short profile of 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 business 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.

TAKKT Group has over 2,500 employees and more than three million customers worldwide. TAKKT AG is listed on the SDAX and was admitted to Deutsche Boerse's Prime Standard on 01 January 2003.
 

Contacts:
Dr Felix A. Zimmermann, CEO, Tel. +49 711 3465-8201
Dr Claude Tomaszewski, CFO, Tel. +49 711 3465-8207

Email: investor@takkt.de