08.05.2017 – 07:04

HOCHDORF Holding AG

EQS-Adhoc: HOCHDORF Holding Ltd: Dr Daniel Suter takes on the role of Chairman

EQS Group-Ad-hoc: HOCHDORF Holding AG / Key word(s): AGM/EGM
HOCHDORF Holding Ltd: Dr Daniel Suter takes on the role of Chairman

08-May-2017 / 07:00 CET/CEST
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR
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Press release for the HOCHDORF Group AGM on 5 May 2017

Dr Daniel Suter takes on the role of Chairman

Hochdorf, 8 May 2017 -The 301 shareholders attending the Annual General Meeting
for HOCHDORF Holding Ltd accepted the proposals submitted by the Board of
Directors. The shareholders confirmed a slight increase in the dividend from
reserves from capital investments to CHF 3.80 (PY CHF 3.70). The shareholders
also elected Dr Daniel Suter to succeed Josef Leu as the new Chairman of the
Board of Directors.

The Extraordinary General Meeting was led by Josef Leu, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of HOCHDORF Holding Ltd, with 301 shareholders in attendance
representing a total of 751,428 share votes (71.61 per cent of the share votes).

The proposals submitted by the Board of Directors were approved by the
shareholders. This included approval of the Annual Report for 2016, the Group
accounts and the annual accounts for HOCHDORF Holding Ltd as of 31 December
2016, in addition to full support for the members of the Board of Directors and
the senior management team. The remuneration report was also approvedalong with
the proposed remuneration of the Board of Directors and the senior management
team.

Slight increase in dividend
The shareholders approved the request for a slight increase in the dividend to
CHF 3.80 per share in view of the company's substantial investments. As in the
previous year, the dividend is paid from capital reserves and is tax free for
natural persons resident in Switzerland. The dividend is to be paid out on 11
May 2017.

Change in the Board of Directors
Prior to the election of the Board of Directors, Anton von Weissenfluh, Vice
Chairman, discharged Josef Leu, outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Meike Bütikofer, member of the Board of Directors for many years. He thanked
them both for their commitment to the HOCHDORF Group. The shareholders then
confirmed the election of all former members of the Board of Directors standing
again. Dr Daniel Suter was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors, as
proposed. Ulrike Sailer was elected as a new member of the Board of Directors.
She will use her international experience in marketing, sales and brand
positioning to support the HOCHDORF Group in the future. Ulrike Sailer is due to
take up a new position with Tchibo, Hamburg as of 1 June 2017 after completing a
further education course. As Director of International Sales (Coffee & Non-Food)
she will be part of the Leadership Team Circle at Tchibo. The shareholders
appointed Dr Anton von Weissenfluh, Niklaus Sauter and Dr Walter Locher onto the
personnel and remuneration committee.

Dr Urban Bieri of the law firm Rudolf & Bieri, Emmenbrücke, was appointed as
independent proxy for the period up to and including the 2018 AGM. The AGM
elected Ernst & Young Ltd, Lucerne as the auditing agency for the same period of
time.

Collaboration with Pharmalys working well
In his presentation, Dr Thomas Eisenring, CEO, explained the interim goals that
had been reached as part of the new strategy fixed for the HOCHDORF Group in the
past year. Dr Eisenring explained that the majority shareholding in the
Pharmalys Group had been an important step in the direction of forward
integration: "Our new joint collaboration in the market has started well. We
have defined joint goals and we also want to use the Pharmalys distribution
network for sales of additional HOCHDORF products in the future." He emphasised
that further increases in profitability would require additional work on
projects defined in all business areas and their successful implementation.

Outlook for 2017 confirmed
Dr Eisenring confirmed the forecasts for the 2017 fiscal year were still
achievable, despite a somewhat cautious start to the new year: "The investment
projects in Sulgen are on track, the collaboration with Pharmalys is working
well and the plants were well utilised, despite slightly reduced milk
quantities." In March the HOCHDORF Group forecast a gross sales revenue for the
2017 fiscal year in the region of CHF 635 to 670 million and a percentage EBIT
compared to the production revenue of between 6.1 and 6.6%.

Additional features:


Document:http://n.eqs.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=UAAMIAKFPI
Document title: Press release for the HOCHDORF Group AGM 2017
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End of ad hoc announcement------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this
News:


The HOCHDORF Group, based in Hochdorf, achieved a consolidated gross sales
revenue of CHF 551.5 million in 2016. It is one of the leading foodstuff
companies in Switzerland, employing 630 staff as of 31.12.2016. Made from
natural ingredients such as milk, wheat germ and oil seeds, HOCHDORF products
have been contributing to our health and wellbeing since 1895 - from babies to
senior citizens. Its customers include the food industry and the wholesale and
retail sectors. Its products are sold in over 90 countries. The shares are
traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ISIN CH0024666528).

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Language: English

Company:  HOCHDORF Holding AG

          Siedereistrasse 9

          6281 Hochdorf

          Switzerland

Phone:    +41 41 914 65 65

Fax:      +41 41 914 66 66

E-mail:    hochdorf@hochdorf.com

Internet: www.hochdorf.com

ISIN:     CH0024666528

Listed:   SIX Swiss Exchange



 

End of Announcement EQS Group News Service

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570737  08-May-2017 CET/CEST