Bastei Lubbe AG, a general-interest publishing group listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, held its annual general meeting as a digital event, where shareholders approved a dividend of EUR 0.25 per share for the 2025/2026 financial year. The total payout amounts to EUR 3,300,025.00, representing a payout ratio of 50 percent of distributable profit, at the upper end of the company's defined dividend strategy of 40 to 50 percent. Based on the XETRA closing price of EUR 7.00 on 8 September 2026, this corresponds to a dividend yield of 3.6 percent. The meeting also discharged the boards with overwhelming approval.
The approval of the dividend underscores Bastei Lubbe's commitment to returning value to shareholders while maintaining a solid financial foundation. CFO Mathis Gerkensmeyer noted that despite an economically challenging financial year, the company significantly increased its cash flow, providing a sound basis for reliably sharing success with shareholders. This financial resilience is crucial as the publishing industry faces pressures from digital transformation and changing consumer habits.
The past financial year was marked by an attractive programme of top-selling titles and continued community growth, with a sharp rise in reach and visibility. CEO Soheil Dastyari highlighted that the year was enormously productive yet economically challenging, with targeted investments in new offerings to broaden scope and drive sustained growth. Key innovations include the product shelfie.audio, which makes audiobooks a physical experience again; the new literary imprint Pfaueninsel; the acquisition of Papertoons, Germany's first manhwa and manga publisher; and the successful entry of the community brand LYX into the US market. These moves signal Bastei Lubbe's strategy to diversify revenue streams and capture new audiences, positioning it as an innovation driver in the industry.
The company's community-driven business models, which are increasingly being copied by competitors, have shown further growth potential. By investing in these models and expanding into new segments, Bastei Lubbe aims to create new opportunities for revenue and profit growth. The start of the 2026/2027 financial year has been strong, with revenue growth driven by top titles and SPIEGEL bestsellers such as 'Traume aus Feuer' by Florian Illies and Lucy Astner's 'Kein Sommer ohne August', as well as strong sales of Ken Follett's 'The Armour of Light' and Eva Almstadt's crime novel 'Akte Nordsee - Die letzte Predigt'. This positive momentum suggests that the company's strategic investments are already paying off.
The annual general meeting's resolutions and the positive outlook have significant implications for stakeholders. The attractive dividend reinforces investor confidence, while the strategic initiatives demonstrate a forward-looking approach to navigate economic challenges and capitalize on emerging trends. As Bastei Lubbe continues to innovate and expand, it solidifies its position as the leading independent publishing group in Germany, generating annual revenues of over EUR 118 million. For detailed voting results and the Executive Board's presentation, visit bastei-luebbe.de/unternehmen/investor-relations/hauptversammlung. Further information about the company can be found at www.bastei-luebbe.de.
