Annual General Meeting: Strong balance sheet and forward-looking investment strategy
The 16th Annual General Meeting of Windkraft Simonsfeld AG took place on 24 June 2025 at the Z2000 event centre in Stockerau. A total of 301 shareholders were present or represented. They represented around 144,200 shares or 39.5% of the share capital of Windkraft Simonsfeld AG.
Markus Winter, Chief Technology Officer, and Alexander Hochauer, Chief Financial Officer, presented the results for the 2024 financial year. If you want to help shape the energy transition, there is no way around Windkraft Simonsfeld: our energy transition company has been pursuing a clear path for almost 30 years - promoting climate protection through the expansion of renewable energy and with broad social support.
Right at the beginning, Markus Winter referred to the challenges of global warming, which were confirmed just a few days ago by the Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change: "The average temperature in Austria was already 3.1 degrees above the pre-industrial level, and temperatures in our country are rising almost twice as fast as worldwide. Every additional degree has an enormous impact that each of us can feel in our everyday lives. The report is an urgent reminder that we must now finally make consistent progress on climate protection and the energy transition," says Winter.
Lots of sustainable growth, lots of energy for the future
The expansion of renewable energies is an essential part of the solution and remains the core strategic goal of Windkraft Simonsfeld. In 2024, the Windkraft Simonsfeld Group increased its electricity production to a new high of 756.5 million kilowatt hours, exceeding the previous year's result by 11.6 %. This corresponds to the annual demand of around 189,000 households.
"Windkraft Simonsfeld thus achieved a turnover of €88.6 million and consolidated earnings after tax of €23.6 million in the reporting year - an excellent result. We invested around €33.2 million - largely in the construction and development of renewable power plants," says Hochauer.
Consistent investment strategy for climate protection and the energy transition
Despite persistently challenging political and social conditions, the company has been able to record expansion successes: A new wind farm was commissioned in Wilfersdorf in 2024, a wind farm in Lower Austria has already been approved in the last instance and three further wind farms have been approved in the first instance. "In addition, we were able to get another six wind farms approved, and by the end of 2025 there will be another six. By 2030, we want to increase our electricity production to 2 billion kWh and thus produce enough electricity to meet the needs of 500,000 households," emphasises Winter.
"Our economic strength enables us to invest decisively in a sustainable energy future. If these projects are realised as planned, this corresponds to an investment volume of €1 billion. We are investing every euro in the energy transition. This is not only ecologically sensible, but also economically necessary," explains Alexander Hochauer, CFO of Windkraft Simonsfeld.
Energy crisis contribution slows down expansion
Only the expansion of a regional and climate-friendly energy supply can guarantee energy independence and security for our country and stabilise energy prices in the long term. Investments in the expansion of renewable energy create jobs, regional added value and infrastructure and are therefore also an economic driver in difficult economic times.
However, with the tightening of the energy crisis contribution for electricity (EKBS), the government has adopted a measure that inhibits the necessary expansion. "This regulation deprives sustainable energy projects of urgently needed capital and thus slows down the energy transition. The EKB-S weakens Austria as a business location and does not make electricity a cent cheaper," says Winter.
Growing number of shareholders and increase in the dividend
The company's expansion strategy is supported by a growing number of shareholders. As one of Austria's largest private equity companies, Windkraft Simonsfeld recorded a new high of 2,588 shareholders in the reporting year. The volume of shares traded rose by 17% compared to the previous year to around €3.3 million. The average share price was € 476.
Due to the successful financial year, a resolution was passed to increase the dividend by 14% to € 16 per share in accordance with the proposal of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board. The payment will be made on 9 July 2025.
All other proposed resolutions on the agenda were also adopted by a majority.> Tagesordnung der 16. ord. Hauptversammlung
New members of the Supervisory Board elected
One of the highlights of this year's Annual General Meeting was the election of new members to the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board of Windkraft Simonsfeld AG consists of four elected and three delegated members. Four new members were elected at yesterday's Annual General Meeting.
The Supervisory Board of Windkraft Simonsfeld AG: Werner Haas (delegated), Ulfert Höhne (delegated), Gudrun Hauser-Zoubek (elected), Stefan Hantsch (elected), Ursula Nährer (delegated), Dieter Pfeifer (elected), and Martin Krill (elected)
Here too, the shareholders followed the Supervisory Board's election proposal and re-elected Gudrun Hauser-Zoubek, Stefan Hantsch, Dieter Pfeifer and Martin Krill to the Supervisory Board. In the subsequent constituent meeting, Stefan Hantsch was confirmed as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Dieter Pfeifer as Deputy Chairman in their previous positions.
The event came to a culinary conclusion with a get-together for all participants.
Executive Board and Supervisory Board with the Annual General Meeting team