The calculation of the dividend to be distributed to preferred and common shareholders is based on certain factors: particularly profitability, financial position, capital requirements, business outlook, the Company’s general economic environment and the share of net profit to be issued to participation certificate holders (including minimum dividend). As participation certificates are entitled to receive ten times as much as the dividend paid to preferred shareholders, it must be remembered when determining the dividend for preferred and common shares that an increase in the dividends of these shares will always result in an increase of the dividend for participation certificates. In the past a little less than half of the total amount paid to participation certificate holders and shareholders together has generally been paid to participation certificate holders in the case of an increase of dividends.

Subject to the above-mentioned determining factors and the Company generating sufficient net earnings the Executive Board of the general partner is going to propose to the annual shareholders’ meeting on May 4, 2012 – together with the Supervisory Board – a reduced dividend of 0,19 Euro per preferred share and 0,13 Euro per common share to finance the current optimization of the capital structure.

Due to the prevailing insecure economic outlook Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA aims at a higher equity ratio of 40% on a consolidated basis in mid-term to widen its strategic opportunities to act. Reaching an equity ratio of 40%, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA plans to pay out again approximately 30% of the Dräger Group’s net profit (minus non-controlling interests in net profit). Until then, the Executive Board of the general partner intends to pay out approximately 15% of the Group’s net profit (minus non-controlling interests in net profit).

With these measures the Executive Board, together with the Supervisory Board, aims at allowing shareholders a higher return on investment in the long-term based on the future optimized capital structure.