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Report Statements Supervisory
Board
On March 19, 2010 the auditor attended the fi nancial review
meetings in both the Audit and Finance Committee and the
plenary session of the Supervisory Board, gave an extensive
report and answered questions. He was able to confi rm that
in the course of the audit, no signifi cant weaknesses had been
identifi ed in the accounting-related internal control system.
Th e Audit and Finance Committee discussed the annual fi -
nancial statement documents and auditor’s reports in detail.
Th e fi ndings of the auditor and group auditor of the annual
and consolidated fi nancial statements were carefully reviewed
in an internal audit of the annual and consolidated fi nancial
statements. Th e Audit and Finance Committee reported comprehensively
to the plenary session of the Supervisory Board
concerning the audit of the annual and consolidated fi nancial
statements and the audit reports.
Th e plenary session of the Supervisory Board reviewed the annual
fi nancial statements, management report, consolidated
fi nancial statements and Group management report, taking
into account the recommendations of the Audit and Finance
Committee and of the audit reports and following further discussion
with the auditor. Th e Supervisory Board concurred with
the audit fi ndings. After its own fi nal scrutiny of the annual and
consolidated fi nancial statements and the management and
Group management reports, the Supervisory Board – acting in
accordance with the Audit and Finance Committee’s recommendation
– has raised no objections. Th e fi nancial statements
produced by the Executive Board are thus approved and the
annual fi nancial statements adopted.
Th e Supervisory Board furthermore reviewed and concurred
with the Executive Board proposal to shareholders as to the
amount of net retained profi ts for appropriation.
Th e amount of the proposed dividend is appropriate in the view
of the Supervisory Board, in consideration of the economic environment,
the company’s economic situation and the interests
of the shareholders.
Bertelsmann Annual Report 2009
Executive and Supervisory Board
Membership Changes
Dr. Bernd Buchholz was appointed to the Executive Board
eff ective July 17, 2009.
Th e year under review saw the following changes to the composition
of the Supervisory Board: Christa Gomez was appointed
to the Supervisory Board as an employee representative
at the Bertelsmann AG Annual General Meeting held on
May 5, 2009.
In fi scal year 2009, Bertelsmann’s core markets largely declined
in the face of the global economic crisis. In particular, the European
TV and magazine advertising markets recorded doubledigit
percentage falls. Th e print and storage media markets also
declined signifi cantly, while the book markets were relatively
stable. With the decline in total revenues, the Group’s return
on sales fell slightly short of the previous year.
Th e Supervisory Board would like to express its gratitude for
the excellent work of the Executive Board in a diffi cult economic
environment during the past fi scal year and would like
to thank all executives and employees for their commitment
and achievements.
Gütersloh, March 19, 2010
Dr. Gunter Th ielen
157