- Siemens Healthineers seizes crisis as opportunity and spotlights sustainable action even more
- Peer Schatz proposed as new Supervisory Board member
- Dividend proposal of EUR 0.80 per share for fiscal year 2020
This year, the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of Siemens Healthineers AG takes place against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic: For the first time, the event will be held virtually, without the physical presence of shareholders and their proxy representatives, and with no general debate. Despite extraordinary circumstances, the Supervisory Board and the Managing Board have drawn a positive conclusion with regard to the business development: “In fiscal year 2020, Siemens Healthineers were not just content to keep the company stable in the face of historic challenges. Instead, the team saw the crisis as an opportunity to emerge stronger from it,” said Supervisory Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Ralf P. Thomas.
In his speech, he pointed out that, despite the difficult conditions, the company has been able to uphold implementation of its Stratetgy 2025. “While the vast majority of companies were reactively engaged in coping with the crisis, Siemens Healthineers went on the offensive and opened the next chapter in the company’s history with the planned acquisition of Varian Medical Systems, Inc.,” said Thomas, referring to the largest transaction in the more than 100-year history of Siemens medical technology.
Sustainable action and business success go hand-in-hand
Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bernd Montag also addressed the social relevance of Siemens Healthineers: “One of the most important lessons learned in recent months is that a functioning health service must be part of the critical infrastructure in every country. Health is not primarily a cost factor but the prerequisite for quality of life in a functioning society and economy. Against this background, the value of our service to societies around the world, which we achieve for and with our customers, has become even more apparent. The pandemic has shown very clearly that we should all reconsider how we define and generate economic success and prosperity. As a company that is responsible, innovative and focused on the well-being of people, we have launched a holistic and ambitious sustainability program,” said Montag.
In the historically challenging environment of fiscal year 2020, which ended on September 30, Siemens Healthineers has proven to be highly resilient and delivered excellent results. At EUR 14.5 billion, revenue was at the record level of the previous year. And order intake for long-term large orders rose to a new high of around EUR 1 billion. This underlines the role of Siemens Healthineers as a reliable and attractive partner for its customers around the globe.
Peer Schatz proposed as new Supervisory Board member
At today’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, shareholders are to decide, among other things, on the election of Peer Schatz (55) as a new member of the Supervisory Board. The election of the long-time CEO of QIAGEN N.V., a leading global provider of complete solutions for gaining molecular insights from biological samples, would increase the number of Supervisory Board members of Siemens Healthineers AG from the current nine to ten. The prerequisite for this is the adoption of a resolution by the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on an amendment to the Articles of Association that allows for a higher number of members of the Supervisory Board.
Dividend proposal of EUR 0.80 per share
In addition, the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting will decide on the dividend for the past fiscal year. The Managing Board and Supervisory Board are proposing a dividend of EUR 0.80 per share be paid for the fiscal year 2020. This corresponds to a pay-out-ratio of 60 percent of net income.
