DGAP-News

TAKKT Shareholders' Meeting: Dividend policy a sign of continuity - Seite 2

marketing and IT, the Group wants to generate additional growth stimulus
through DYNAMIC. TAKKT sees attractive opportunities here, particularly in
its product range. TAKKT wants to expand its product range in a targeted
manner and noticeably increase the share of turnover attributable to
private and/or performance brands. The activities related to DYNAMIC will
lead to expenses that will not yet be fully offset by income in 2014. This
effect could reduce the Group's EBITDA margin in 2014 by about 0.5
percentage points. For 2014 and the coming years, TAKKT expects the capital
expenditure ratio to be at the upper end of the long-term targeted corridor
of between one and two percent of turnover - or slightly higher.

Sustainability as part of the business model
In the 2013 financial year, TAKKT also made significant progress toward its
goal of becoming a role model in terms of sustainability in its industry by
2016. With the integration of relevant sustainability criteria in the
existing supplier evaluation program, the company wants to systematically
record, document and improve sustainability in its supply chain. In a pilot
project in 2013, 20 suppliers of KAISER+KRAFT have successfully tested this
evaluation process. Over the medium term, all suppliers with a relevant
purchase volume should be documented in this way. Progress regarding
sustainability is also evident in other focus areas identified by the TAKKT
Group: For example, paper consumption per million euros of turnover has
been reduced since 2011 by 29 percent. In addition, it was possible to
reduce CO2 emissions per kilogram of paper advertising materials by 34
percent since 2011.

In March, TAKKT published its 2014 Sustainability Report, which provides an
overview of the status of all sustainability measures. The 2014
Sustainability Report has achieved the "Advanced Level" according to the
Global Compact of the United Nations. The focus of this level is on
implementing and observing ten universal principles in the areas of human
rights, labor standards, environmental protection and combating corruption
in operational business. Currently, TAKKT is one of only eleven German
companies that have been awarded this status.


Outlook confirmed
TAKKT got off to a good start in 2014. In Europe, the economic recovery
that began in the previous year continued. In North America, overall
conditions were also positive. After the first quarter of 2014, TAKKT
continues to anticipate a performance in line with the most likely forecast
scenario in the 2013 annual report. Here the TAKKT Group continues to