Bechtle : announces new Supervisory Board member and higher dividend

Bechtle announces new Supervisory Board member and higher dividend

• Stephanie Holdt elected to office
• AGM approves 14th dividend increase in a row
• Agreement on all agenda items

Neckarsulm, 11 June 2024 - Shareholders have today elected a new member of the Supervisory Board at the Bechtle AG Annual General Meeting. In Stephanie Holdt, an experienced finance expert is joining the board to replace Elke Reichart, who has stepped down after nearly seven years for professional reasons. The Chair of the Supervisory Board, Klaus Winkler thanked Elke Reichart saying: "We are very sorry to be losing Elke Reichart on the board and I would like to thank her for her dedication and valuable contributions during her tenure." The AGM also approved the proposed dividend of €0.70 per share-the 14th increase in a row-and also agreed on all remaining agenda items.

Listed on the MDAX, Bechtle's AGM this year welcomed 500 shareholders, over 100 students and other guests to the Harmonie congress centre in Heilbronn. An important point on the agenda was the election of a new member of the Supervisory Board. Stephanie Holdt, Chief Financial Officer at the Voith Group used the opportunity to introduce herself to the shareholders and underscore her eagerness to fill the role. After her election, she thanked the shareholders for their trust, stressing: "I'm delighted to take up this position and am looking forward to contributing to sustainable development at the company. Bechtle is in an excellent position and will play a decisive role in its customers' successful digital transformation by delivering future-facing IT solutions."

Stephanie Holdt is replacing Elke Reichart, who is stepping down after close to seven years on the Bechtle AG Supervisory Board to focus on her role as Chief Digital and Sustainability Officer at Infineon Technologies. Stephanie Holdt does not currently hold any other positions on a supervisory board. "As a new member of the Supervisory Board, I'm very excited to support the company in this very dynamic environment, and I'm also incredibly grateful and proud to contribute my experience in manufacturing, financial and digital industries to a fast-growing and innovative company like Bechtle," says the 45-year-old.

Fourteenth dividend increase

The AGM also approved a proposal made by the Executive and Supervisory Boards to raise the dividend by 7.7%-an increase above that of earnings after taxes-which sees shareholders enjoying an above average share in the company's success. The payout ratio of 33.2% is up slightly from 32.6% yoy meaning Bechtle is continuing its long-standing policy of paying out around a third of its earnings after taxes to its shareholders. "Increasing the dividend is above all a sign of our confidence in Bechtle's continuing positive growth," says Dr Thomas Olemotz, CEO at Bechtle AG.

Forecast for the year 2024 confirmed

After a good first quarter and based on the expectation that demand will pick up in the second half-year, Bechtle confirmed its forecast for the 2024 fiscal year first published in March. The IT service provider anticipates revenues to grow by between five and ten per cent. "We are encouraged by the fundamental trends that are prevalent and remain intact in the IT industry. Despite the challenging economic climate, there is plenty of scope for growth in fields in which Bechtle has carved out a robust market position," stressed Dr Thomas Olemotz in his keynote to the AGM.

All voting results, a recording of the CEO's keynote as well as other information on the AGM will be available at bechtle.com/de-en/gm2024 from 12 June 2024.