Dividend

The fundamental objective of the company's dividend policy is to offer shareholders an appropriate and sustainable return on their investment that reflects the company's success by distributing between 30 and 40% of Group net income after non-controlling interests.

The Annual General Meeting 2017 approved the proposal put forward by the Management Board and Supervisory Board for a dividend payment of EUR 0.50 (previous year: 0.55) per share for fiscal 2016.

DIVIDEND PER SHARE

in EUR

2013	0.45
2014	0.50
2015	0.55
2016	0.55
2017	0.50

The total dividend payment amounts to EUR 31.7 (34.8) million. The dividend ratio for the 2016 financial year stands at 40.3%, compared to 38.0% in previous year, which lies at the upper range of the long-term dividend policy adopted by the company.

TOTAL DIVIDEND PAYMENTS

in EUR million

2013	28.5
2014	31.7
2015	34.8
2016	34.8
2017^[1]	31.7