Deutsche Borse today cancelled 3.9 million own shares, a move announced in February that will reduce the number of shares in the company to 102.0 million and the companys share capital to EUR102.0 million.
The cancelled shares had been bought back as part of the ongoing capital management program.
In May 2005, Deutsche Brse announced its intention to distribute around 1.5 billion to shareholders in the period through May 2007. In 2005, 10.6 million shares with a total value of EUR726.3 million were bought back and a dividend of EUR74.1 million was distributed in May 2005.
In all, about EUR800 million was distributed to shareholders in financial year 2005. 5.9 million shares were cancelled before the AGM in May 2005 and 0.1 million shares were purchased by employees on 30 June 2005 as part of the Group Share Plan. The remaining 4.6 million shares were held in treasury as at December 31, 2005.
The Deutsche Borse plans to make the proposed dividend payment of EUR210.4 million for financial year 2005, and to buy back more shares. Between January 1 and March 31, 1.1 million shares with a total value of EUR104.7 million were bought back.