GESCO SE publishes preliminary figures and updates dividend policy

EQS-Ad-hoc: GESCO SE / Key word(s): Preliminary Results/Dividend GESCO SE publishes preliminary figures and updates dividend policy 24-March-2025 / 18:50 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Sales and earnings in line with expectations Clarified strategy for profit appropriation and proposed dividend of € 0.10 Reduced working capital leads to high cash flow from operating activities Based on preliminary, unaudited figures, GESCO SE generated Group sales of € 513.8 million (previous year: € 560.7 million) and Group earnings of € 4.4 million (previous year: € 20.9 million) in financial year 2024. The result is largely in line with the updated forecast from December 2024, which predicted Group sales of € 520–540 million and Group earnings of € 3.5–7.5 million. The sale of the loss-making business units at Doerrenberg at the end of 2024 had a negative impact on earnings of approximately € 4.8 million. Largely due to the reduction of working capital in the amount of € 29.9 million, the Company managed to increase cash flow from operating activities by € 18.1 million to € 51.2 million and to significantly reduce the amount owed to banks by € 29.8 million. Earnings per share amounted to € 0.42 (2023: € 1.93). Against this backdrop, GESCO SE proposes a dividend payment of € 0.10 per share entitled to a dividend. At the same time, GESCO SE's long-term and forward-looking orientation is strengthened by a more specific profit appropriation strategy. The previous range of 20%–60% for dividend payments will be limited to the lower range of 20%–40%. The aim is to be able to deviate from this range if appropriate opportunities arise. The Executive Board has therefore set the following priorities for the appropriation of profits: