BayWa AG Annual Report 2011

Letter to the Shareholders
Our company is in good shape for the BayWa anniversary year 2013 when it will
be 90 years old. BayWa has made huge leaps and bounds in its development
and evolution in this decade – unchanged, however, is our view of its underlying
cooperative structure as a sound foundation. The BayWa brand also reaps the
benefit of this: A strong brand contributes to success, in national and international
markets alike. This is why we consistently pursue our family brand strategy. To
promote awareness of the brand still further, we have opted for sport sponsoring,
among other measures. BayWa is the new premium partner of the first basketball
league team of FC Bayern München.
Now to our development on the stock market: BayWa’s registered share with
restricted transferability surpassed the €35 threshold for the first time, also in 2011.
Over the course of the year, the BayWa share was unable to decouple from the
downturn in Germany’s leading DAX index. BayWa’s success is clearly reflected
in its dividend. The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board will therefore
put forward a proposal to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to raise
dividend from 50 to 60 cents, an increase of 20%. Since 2007, when it was 32
cents, dividend from the BayWa share has almost doubled. Moreover, an increasing
number of analysts are regularly covering the share, which is very pleasing. BayWa
is and remains a worthwhile investment because the Group, with its core segments
of Agriculture, Energy and Building Materials, stands for satisfying the fundamental
need for food, shelter, energy, warmth and mobility.
BayWa intends to grow sustainably, while achieving a balance between economy,
ecology, commitment to society and corporate social responsibility. My Board
member colleagues and I view open dialogue with our customers, shareholders
and business partners as an integral part of value-oriented company management.
May I thank you on behalf of all our employees and the whole BayWa Group for
your renewed solidarity and support in the year 2011.
Your
Klaus Josef Lutz
Chief Executive Officer of BayWa AG
BayWa AG Annual Report 2011
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