Preliminary information: ALSO Group closes fourth year in succession with record result

In the Central Europe market segment, ALSO increased its net sales by 12.5 percent from 5 076 million euros in the previous year to 5 709 million euros. In the Northern/Eastern Europe market segment, net sales rose by 3.8 percent compared to the previous year, from 1 601 million euros to 1 663 million euros.

Disbursement to the shareholders

The Board of Directors of ALSO Holding AG pursues a policy of continuous dividends and strives for a payout ratio of 25 to 35 percent. The annual dividend is defined in the light of the current income and financial situation as well as the corresponding outlook. For 2015, the Board of Directors proposes a distribution to the shareholders from the reserve from contribution in kind of 1.60 Swiss francs per share. This represents a total dividend payment of 20.5 million Swiss francs. In view of the massive upward revaluation of the Swiss franc, this represents a distribution of 32 percent of the Group net profit (exchange rate of January 30, 2015). In the previous year, 29 percent of the Group net profit was distributed. The proposal will be submitted to the shareholders for approval at the Annual General Meeting of March 12, 2015.

The complete Annual Report for 2014 will be published to coincide with the Analyst and Media Conference on February 17, 2015.