Mannheim, 12 July 2016 - At the annual general meeting of CropEnergies AG, Mannheim, on 12 July 2016, shareholders approved by a large majority the dividend proposal of the supervisory board and the executive board to distribute a dividend of EUR 0.15 per share entitled to dividend. This results in a total dividend payout of EUR 13.1 million.
All other agenda items were also adopted by a majority of more than 95 percent. Around 700 shareholders and guests attended the annual general meeting in the Congress Center Rosengarten in Mannheim. Overall, 83 percent of the share capital was represented. Shareholders were particularly interested in the development of the company and the current financial year, especially the restart of the bioethanol plant in Wilton, UK. The political framework for bioethanol in the EU, the planned introduction of E10 in additional member states and the development of the bioethanol prices were also discussed in depth. In the medium term, CropEnergies expects the resolutions passed at the climate summit in Paris in late 2015 and the EU resolutions for the increase of the share of renewable energies also in the transport sector to result in market growth. It is necessary, however, to define mandatory targets for the use of renewable energies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector for the time beyond 2020, because at this point in time, biofuels are the only alternative to fossil fuels which is cost-efficient and available on a large scale. Their essential contribution to climate protection through their high potential for greenhouse gas savings has to be fully utilized.
CropEnergies AG
Ensuring mobility in a climate friendly way - today and in the future - is CropEnergies' business. Founded in Mannheim, Germany, in 2006, the member of the Südzucker Group is one of the leading European manufacturers of sustainably produced bioethanol today. With its production capacities of 1.3 million cubic meters of bioethanol per year, CropEnergies produces bioethanol which predominantly replaces petrol in four modern production facilities in Germany, Belgium, the UK, and France. The highly efficient production facilities reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70 percent across the whole value-added chain compared to fossil fuel. In addition to fuel alcohol, CropEnergies also produces 150,000 cubic meters of high-purity neutral alcohol which is used in the beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industry or for technical applications. At the same time, CropEnergies is an important producer of food and animal feed products. The raw materials which are used such as cereals and sugar beets are completely utilized. As a result, more than 1 million 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 (ISIN DE000AOLAUP1) has been listed at the regulated market (Prime Standard) at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2006.