Encouraging earnings for the financial year 2009 was recorded by the BMW Group. This was according to their plans regardless of the in progress worldwide financial and economic disaster. The profit before tax of the Group increased by 17.7% to euro 413 million while it was euro 351 million in 2008. Because of the higher in force tax rate the net profit of the BMW Group amounted to euro 210 million against euro 330 million in 2008 down by 36.4%. Revenues reduced fairly by 4.7% to euro 50,681 million as against euro 53,197 million in 2008. Dividend remains unchanged against the previous year at euro 0.30 per share of common stock and euro 0.32per share of preferred stock.
While at a meeting in Munich Dr. Norbert Reithofer, the Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG stated that “We performed well in 2009 despite difficult market conditions worldwide. Our cost management and efficiency improvement measures had a positive impact, even though the effects of the worldwide financial and economic crisis were still being felt. We are proposing a dividend for 2009 despite the difficult economic climate, demonstrating the confidence we have in our operating strength, and we also want our shareholders to participate in the company’s performance”.