HeidelbergCement – Annual General Meeting
Published by David Bizley,
Editor
World Cement,
In his speech to about 520 shareholders, Dr. Bernd Scheifele, Chairman of the Managing Board, offered a look back at HeidelbergCement’s successful development in 2018. The company reached most of its goals despite a challenging environment with adverse weather in core markets and significantly increased energy costs.
A decline in result from current operations could be more than compensated by higher gains from the portfolio optimisation, lower restructuring costs and an improved financial result. In summary, sales volumes, revenues and net income reached new record figures. The portfolio optimisation made good progress and delivered about €600 million of disposal proceeds. Net debt was reduced by more than €300 million. In addition, as in the previous year, the company has earned a premium on its cost of capital. The strategic priorities - shareholder returns and continuous growth - are clearly reflected in the ninth consecutive increase in dividend.
Good start into the year - outlook confirmed for 2019
Dr. Bernd Scheifele also reported on the results and developments in the first quarter of 2019, and confirmed the outlook for the remainder of the year given at the publication of the 2018 annual results in March 2019. “HeidelbergCement had a great start into the new year," explained Dr. Bernd Scheifele. "We significantly increased revenue and result from current operations and are on track to meet our 2019 targets."
Dividend increased by 11%
The Annual General Meeting has approved the proposal of the administration to increase the dividend by 11% to €2.10 with a substantial majority of 99.89%. “With the ninth consecutive dividend increase we consistently implement our progressive dividend strategy and share our successful business development with our shareholders,” explained Dr. Bernd Scheifele. “The dividend payment for 2018 is a new record in the history of HeidelbergCement.”
Shareholder representatives of the Supervisory Board elected
Furthermore, the Annual General Meeting has elected the shareholder representatives of the Supervisory Board. The shareholders have approved the proposals of the administration with a substantial majority. Besides the current members of the Supervisory Board Messrs Fritz-Ju¨rgen Heckmann, Ludwig Merckle, Tobias Merckle, Mrs. Margret Suckale, and Mrs. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Marion Weissenberger-Eibl, Mr. Luka Mucic has been elected as new member of HeidelbergCement’s Supervisory Board. Mr. Mucic succeeds Dr. Ju¨rgen M. Schneider, who has reached the standard retirement age and made his mandate available after today's annual general meeting.
Changes to the Managing Board remuneration system approved by a large majority
The Annual General Meeting has approved the changes to the Managing Board remuneration system introduced on 1 January 2014 with a substantial majority of more than 93%. “We are pleased, that the changes to the Managing Board remuneration system and the description in our Annual Report were received very positively by our shareholders,” says Dr. Scheifele. “This is also proof of our good understanding of investor needs and the professional communication with the capital market.”
Of the company’s €595.2 million in subscribed share capital, 72.30% were represented.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/13052019/heidelbergcement-annual-general-meeting/
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