BERGISCH GLADBACH, GERMANY – INDUS Holding AG held its 2026 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting at Koelnmesse’s Congress Centre North on June 3, where a large majority of shareholders approved all proposals from the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board. Approximately 43.47% of the voting share capital was represented. Among the resolutions were the appropriation of net retained profits, approval of management actions, re-election of Carl Martin Welcker to the Supervisory Board, and creation of Authorized Capital 2026.
Chairman of the Board of Management Dr. Johannes Schmidt highlighted the company’s consistent focus on its strengths amid geopolitical uncertainties, investment restraint, and rising material prices. “We don’t let ourselves be distracted by things we cannot control. We build on our strengths. And we look at the opportunities,” Schmidt said. The EMPOWERING MITTELSTAND strategy underpins the company’s direction, emphasizing three growth drivers: acquisitions, internationalization, and engineering competence.
A central theme of the meeting was the role of technology and digitalization. Schmidt specifically noted that the company “transform[s] the companies where we can unlock potential through AI and digitalization,” calling it a great opportunity for INDUS portfolio companies. This aligns with the guiding principle articulated by Supervisory Board Chairman Jürgen Abromeit, who stressed the need to transform industrial strengths into high-tech enterprises by leveraging interconnected knowledge across companies, research institutions, and startups.
Abromeit framed INDUS as a pioneer and “showcase example” of the future convergence between industry and high technology. The transformation, he said, extends beyond processes and technologies to mindsets and collaboration. This strategic pivot is expected to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of INDUS’s more than 40 portfolio companies, which operate globally under the long-term ownership of the SME Group listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (SDAX) since 1995.
Looking ahead, the Board of Management expressed cautious optimism for the current financial year following solid business development in 2025. INDUS will continue to focus on resilience, operational excellence, and targeted growth. “And we are well positioned to do this,” Schmidt affirmed. Shareholders also approved a dividend payment of EUR 1.30 per share.
The re-election of Carl Martin Welcker, Managing Partner of Alfred H. Schutte GmbH & Co. KG and a long-standing Supervisory Board member, ensures continuity in governance. His term runs until the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting that resolves on actions for fiscal year 2027. Further details, including the Chairman’s speech and voting results, are available on the company’s website at www.indus.eu.
For business leaders and technology executives, INDUS’s strategy underscores a critical trend: traditional industrial companies must embrace AI and digitalization to remain competitive. By systematically integrating high-tech capabilities into its Mittelstand portfolio, INDUS positions itself to navigate volatile markets and unlock new growth, offering a model for other industrial holding companies seeking to future-proof their operations.
