Mercedes 2009 Annual Report Download - page 105

Management Report |Overall Assessment of the Economic Situation |Events after End of the year 2009 Financial Year |101
With the goal of utilizing the growth potential of the newly indus-
tri alizing countries, we are increasing our investment in local
production facilities, especially in China, India and Russia. We can
only ensure that we profit from these markets in the future by
maintaining appropriate local presence.
Within the context of our financial management, particularly in the
crisis, we ensured that Daimler can continue to rely on a solid
financial foundation for the implementation of its strategies. Our
equity base has been additionally strengthened by our new
investor Aabar Investments (Abu Dhabi), which acquired 9.1% of
Daimler’s shares in March 2009. Our equity ratio and liquidity
remained at high levels at the end of 2009, despite the effects
of the global financial and economic crisis.
In view of the Group’s net loss of €2.6 billion, the Board of Man-
agement and the Supervisory Board have decided to pay no
dividend for the year 2009. This is solely due to last year’s busi-
ness development and earnings situation and is not related to
our expectations for the year 2010. In the coming years, we want
our shareholders to participate in appropriate form in Daimler’s
profits once again.
To sum up, we can enter the year 2010 with confidence. Daimler
is a financially sound, strong and above all innovative company.
We are therefore firmly convinced that we will successfully meet
the challenges ahead.
Further events after the end of the 2009 financial year.
Since the end of the 2009 financial year, there have been no
further occurrences that are of major significance for Daimler.
The course of business in the first two months of 2010 confirms
the statements made in the “Outlook” section of this Annual
Report.
Events after the End of
the 2009 Financial Year