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 on September 9, 2026. Shareholders approved the proposed resolutions with overwhelming support, including a dividend of EUR 0.25 per share for the 2025/2026 financial year, representing a total payout of EUR 3,300,025.00 and a payout ratio of 50 percent of distributable profit. This places the dividend at the upper end of the company's defined strategy of 40 to 50 percent, and based on the XETRA closing price of EUR 7.00 on September 8, 2026, it offers a dividend yield of 3.6 percent.
The meeting underscored Bastei Lubbe's commitment to rewarding shareholders while investing in future growth. CEO Soheil Dastyari described the past financial year as 'enormously productive' yet 'economically challenging,' noting targeted investments in new offerings to broaden scope and drive sustained growth. Chief Financial Officer Mathis Gerkensmeyer highlighted a significant increase in cash flow and a solid balance sheet, providing a sound basis for reliable shareholder returns.
Key to the company's strategy is its community-driven business model, which has seen continued growth in reach and visibility, and is increasingly being copied by competitors. Bastei Lubbe has also made sustainable investments in new segments, products, and services. Notable innovations include shelfie.audio, which makes audiobooks a physical experience; the new literary imprint Pfaueninsel; the acquisition of Papertoons, Germany's first manhwa and manga publisher; and the successful entry of community brand LYX into the US market. These initiatives create new opportunities for revenue and profit growth.
The new financial year 2026/2027 has started well, with further revenue growth driven by top titles and SPIEGEL bestsellers such as Florian Illies' 'Traume aus Feuer' and Lucy Astner's 'Kein Sommer ohne August,' along with strong sales of Ken Follett's 'The Armour of Light' paperback and Eva Almstadt's crime novel 'Akte Nordsee - Die letzte Predigt.' At the time of the vote, 79.62 percent of share capital was represented.
For more details, the voting results and Executive Board presentation are available at bastei-luebbe.de/unternehmen/investor-relations/hauptversammlung. Further information about the company can be found at www.bastei-luebbe.de.
The approval of the dividend and the strategic investments signal Bastei Lubbe's resilience and forward-looking approach in a challenging economic environment. The company's focus on community models and product innovations positions it well to capitalize on new market opportunities and sustain long-term growth, making this news significant for investors and the publishing industry alike.
