General Meeting of Shareholders of Vontobel Holding AG: clear majority of shareholders approve Board of Directors’ proposals – Dominic Brenninkmeyer and Nicolas Oltramare elected to Board of Directors

At the General Meeting held today, the shareholders of Vontobel Holding AG approved the Annual Report, Annual Financial Statements and Group Financial Statements for 2012 by a clear majority and granted discharge to the members of the Board of Directors and the Management. The shareholders also agreed to the proposed dividend of CHF 1.20 per share for the 2012 financial year (prior year: CHF 1.10 per share).

 

Both Prof. Dr. Ann-Kristin Achleitner and Dr. Philippe Cottier decided for personal reasons not to stand for re-election to the Board of Directors. The General Meeting thus elected the two entrepreneurs Dominic Brenninkmeyer and Nicolas Oltramare as new members of the Board of Directors, for a term of one year. The existing members of the Board of Directors Herbert J. Scheidt (Chairman), Bruno Basler, Peter Quadri, Dr. Frank Schnewlin, Clara C. Streit and Marcel Zoller were re-elected for a further term of one year. Ernst & Young AG, Zurich, was also reappointed as statutory auditors for a period of one year.

 

In his speech, Chairman Herbert J. Scheidt started by marking the anniversary of the 30th General Meeting of Vontobel Holding AG and by paying tribute to Honorary Chairman Dr. Hans Vontobel in his 70th year of service: “Both these anniversaries are symbolic of two key mainstays for the Vontobel Group, namely the close ties with our owner families and the responsibility we have to our shareholders.” Taking a look back, Herbert J. Scheidt emphasized Vontobel’s "down-to-earth mindset" and "forward-looking approach", praising these as essential facets throughout Vontobel’s history as illustrated in the recent publication “Vontobel 1924 to 2012”. Turning to the future, he summarised his views in four key points. First he highlighted how political institutions are overextended with the challenges posed by the current financial and economic crisis, and went on to stress the importance that privacy and respect for property have for the competitiveness of the financial sector. He also outlined the advantages of a broadly based business model in crisis periods, adding that banks in general can ultimately only be successful if they can clearly show the significance of the sector for society as a whole and strengthen trust: “We have to be upstanding and credible, do what we say we will do, and judge ourselves by our own standards. All the better that we can do so on the basis of a value system and reputation such as that established by Vontobel over nearly 90 years.“ It is this, said Herbert J. Scheidt in closing, that makes him optimistic for the success of the company in 2013 and beyond.

 

CEO Dr. Zeno Staub first looked at Vontobel’s business performance in 2012. He went on to reiterate its declared goal of seizing the opportunities offered by the fundamental changes in the global financial industry and of seeking to actively shape the change process via the company’s tried-and-tested strategy. “The new realities in the financial industry are bringing about a reassessment, and thus a shift in market shares. Strong financial institutions – Vontobel among them – are opening up attractive opportunities for growth, both organically and via acquisitions. We will be able to harness the possibilities that arise.” With regard to business performance in Q1, he added: “Thanks to the good market performance and the ongoing inflow of new money, the volume of client assets is up both year-on-year and compared with Q4 2012. Additional assets were acquired predominantly in the institutional segment, and Asset Management posted a correspondingly solid showing. The restructuring at Private Banking is on track, and the inflow of net new money remains modest as expected. Vontobel Investment Banking is well positioned across the board, but continues to operate in a very challenging environment. As regards profitability and efficiency, in Q1 2013 Vontobel was on a par with 2012.”

 

Contacts

 

Media Relations:	Reto Giudicetti	+41 (0)58 283 61 63
Investor Relations:	Susanne Borer	+41 (0)58 283 73 29

 

Calendar

 

Ex-dividend date:	25 April 2013
Record date:	29 April 2013
Dividend payment date:	30 April 2013