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. 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 September 8, 2026, the dividend yield is 3.6 percent. This distribution underscores Bastei Lubbe's commitment to returning value to shareholders while maintaining a solid financial foundation.
The past financial year was marked by an attractive programme of top-selling titles and continued community growth, which significantly increased reach and visibility in relevant media. CEO Soheil Dastyari described the year as "enormously productive" while also economically challenging, noting that the company made targeted investments in new offerings to broaden its scope and drive sustained growth. Key innovations include shelfie.audio, a product that 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 initiatives position Bastei Lubbe to capitalize on new revenue and profit opportunities.
Chief Financial Officer Mathis Gerkensmeyer highlighted that despite economic challenges, the company significantly increased its cash flow, providing a sound financial basis for reliable shareholder returns. The annual general meeting also discharged the boards with overwhelming approval. As of the vote, 79.62 percent of the share capital was represented. Detailed voting results and the Executive Board's presentation are available at bastei-luebbe.de/unternehmen/investor-relations/hauptversammlung (German language).
The new financial year 2026/2027 has started well, with further revenue growth driven by top titles and SPIEGEL bestsellers such as 'Traume aus Feuer' by Florian Illies and Lucy Astner's novel 'Kein Sommer ohne August'. Strong sales of the paperback edition of Ken Follett's 'The Armour of Light' and Eva Almstadt's crime novel 'Akte Nordsee - Die letzte Predigt' also contributed to a strong first quarter. Bastei Lubbe generates annual revenues of over EUR 118 million and owns more than 14 imprints. The company positions itself as an innovation driver in the industry, with rapidly expanding community-driven business models and a pioneering role in digital media. Further information can be found at www.bastei-luebbe.de.
