Mannheim, 30 July 2013 - At the annual general meeting of CropEnergies AG, Mannheim, on 30 July 2013, shareholders approved by a large majority the proposal of the supervisory board and the executive board to increase the dividend to EUR 0.26 (previous year: EUR 0.18) per share entitled to dividend.
This includes an additional distribution of EUR 0.06, which accommodates to the particularly good earnings situation in the 2012/13 financial year. Hence, the total dividend payout amounts to EUR 22.1 (previous year: 15.3) million. All other agenda items were also adopted by a majority of more than 99 percent. Around 800 shareholders and guests attended the annual general meeting in the Congress Center Rosengarten in Mannheim. Overall, 81.26 percent of the share capital was represented.
Shareholders were particularly interested in CropEnergies' current major projects which will continue the expansion of the company: On 19 July 2013, CropEnergies acquired the UK bioethanol producer Ensus Limited. The purchase was carried out by a contribution in kind in return for the issuance of 2.25 million new CropEnergies shares corresponding to a total value of EUR 13.5 million. With this acquisition, CropEnergies increases production capacity by 50 percent. Furthermore, CropEnergies is building a processing plant for neutral alcohol with an investment volume of EUR 27 million in Zeitz.
Ensuring mobility in a climate friendly way - today and in the future - is CropEnergies' business. Founded in Mannheim, Germany, in 2006, the young and dynamically growing member of the Südzucker Group is one of the leading European manufacturers of sustainably produced bioethanol for the fuel sector today. With its three modern production facilities in Germany, Belgium, and France as well as trading offices in the USA and Brazil, CropEnergies produces approximately 700,000 cubic meters of bioethanol per year. They mainly replace petrol and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70 percent. With this, CropEnergies has established itself successfully as a bioethanol pioneer in a major emerging market.
In addition to the efficient production of bioethanol, CropEnergies is mainly characterized by the innovative co-product concept: The raw materials which are used such as cereals and sugar beets are completely utilized. As a result, 500,000 tonnes of high-quality protein food and animal feed products are manufactured every year out of the non-fermentable components of the raw materials.
Through advanced technology and innovation CropEnergies contributes to ensure a sustainable mobility from renewable sources today and in the future through its main product bioethanol: mobility - sustainable. renewable.
The CropEnergies AG stock (ISIN DE000AOLAUP1) has been listed at the regulated market (Prime Standard) at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2006.