Wiesbaden, 30 March 2017 – Aareal Bank Group published its Annual Report 2016 today. In addition to information on the Bank's business model and its activities in the two business segments, the Annual Report includes Aareal Bank's audited consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRSs and the Bank's Group Management Report for 2016.
As announced on the occasion of the Bank's annual press conference on 23 February 2017 during the presentation of the preliminary, unaudited results, consolidated operating profit for the 2016 financial year amounted to € 366 million, after € 470 million in the previous year. Consolidated operating profit for the 2015 financial year included negative goodwill in the amount of € 150 million from the acquisition of Westdeutsche ImmobilienBank AG (WestImmo), which was completed on 31 May 2015.
The Bank wants its shareholders to participate appropriately in these results, which were once again very good. Therefore – as also communicated in February – the Management Board and the Supervisory Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting of Aareal Bank AG, to be held on 31 May 2017, to distribute a dividend of € 2.00 per share (2016: € 1.65). This equals a distribution ratio of 60 per cent.
"From an operational perspective, the financial year 2016 was again a strong year for Aareal Bank Group. We have delivered on our promises again. During the year 2016, we once again remained true to our business policy of making prudent decisions and exploiting opportunities", Hermann J. Merkens, Chairman of the Management Board, explained.
The full annual report for 2016 is available from Aareal Bank's website. An online version including additional information is available on http://ar2016.aareal-bank.com.
