Annual Report 2024

Notes

24. Equity

The subscribed capital of Volkswagen AG is composed of no-par value bearer shares with a notional value of €2.56. As well as ordinary shares, there are preferred shares that entitle the bearer to a €0.06 higher dividend than ordinary shares, but do not carry voting rights.

The Annual General Meeting on May 10, 2023 resolved to create authorized capital of up to €228 million, expiring on May 9, 2028, to issue new preferred bearer shares.

The subscribed capital is composed of 295,089,818 no-par value ordinary shares (previous year: 295,089,818) and 206,205,445 no-par value preferred shares (previous year: 206,205,445), and amounts to €1,283,315,873 (previous year: €1,283,315,873).

The capital reserves comprise the share premium totaling €14,225 million (previous year: €14,225 million) from capital increases, the share premium of €219 million from the issuance of bonds with warrants and an amount of €107 million appropriated on the basis of the capital reduction implemented in 2006. No amounts were withdrawn from the capital reserves.

Dividends and dividend proposal

In accordance with section 58(2) of the Aktiengesetz (AktG – German Stock Corporation Act), the dividend payment by Volkswagen AG is based on the net retained profits reported in the annual financial statements of Volkswagen AG prepared in accordance with the German Commercial Code. Based on these annual financial statements of Volkswagen AG, and following the transfer of €1,960 million to revenue reserves, net retained profits of €3,175 million are eligible for distribution. The Board of Management and Supervisory Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting that a total dividend of €3,171 million, i.e. €6.30 per ordinary share and €6.36 per preferred share, be paid from the net retained profits. Shareholders are not entitled to a dividend payment until it has been resolved by the Annual General Meeting.

In fiscal year 2024, based on the resolution of the Annual General Meeting of Volkswagen AG of May 29, 2024, a dividend of €9.00 per ordinary share and €9.06 per preferred share was paid.

HYBRID CAPITAL

Under IAS 32, the hybrid notes of the Volkswagen Group must be classified in their entirety as equity. The capital raised was recognized in equity, less a discount and transaction costs and net of deferred taxes. The interest payments payable to the noteholders will be recognized directly in equity. IAS 32 only allows these hybrid notes to be classified as debt once the respective hybrid note is called. Interest may be accumulated depending on whether a dividend is paid to Volkswagen AG shareholders.

In May 2024, Volkswagen AG called a hybrid note (maturity: 6 years) with a principal amount of €1,250 million, which had been placed in 2018 via Volkswagen International Finance N.V., Amsterdam/the Netherlands (issuer). Once called, the note was classified as debt in accordance with IAS 32. Equity and net liquidity of the Volkswagen Group were reduced accordingly. The hybrid note was redeemed on June 27, 2024.

In July 2023, Volkswagen AG called a hybrid note (maturity: 10 years) with a principal amount of €750 million, which had been placed in 2013 via Volkswagen International Finance N.V., Amsterdam/the Netherlands (issuer). Once called, the note was classified as debt in accordance with IAS 32. Equity and net liquidity of the Volkswagen Group were reduced accordingly. The hybrid note was redeemed on September 4, 2023.

From the hybrid capital issued on September 6, 2023, Volkswagen AG recorded a cash inflow of €1,750 million less transaction costs of €9 million. In addition, the recognition of deferred taxes led to non-cash effects of €3 million.

NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

As of December 31, 2024, non-controlling interests amounted to €14,437 million (previous year: €14,218 million). Non-controlling interests are mainly attributable to the Porsche AG Group and the TRATON GROUP.

The table below shows summarized financial information of the Porsche AG Group, including amortized goodwill and fair value adjustments, which were determined at the acquisition date:

Non-controlling interests in equity

€ million

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interests in %1

 

24.58

 

24.58

Non-controlling interests

 

12,707

 

12,384

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

66,058

 

63,261

Current assets

 

20,288

 

20,040

Non-current liabilities

 

20,354

 

19,420

Current liabilities

 

14,343

 

13,567

 

 

 

 

 

Sales revenue

 

40,083

 

40,530

Earnings after tax

 

3,542

 

5,128

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

−116

 

471

Dividend paid to non-controlling interest shareholders

 

517

 

225

 

 

 

 

 

Gross cash flow

 

8,312

 

8,889

Change in working capital

 

−1,960

 

−1,866

Cash flows from operating activities

 

6,353

 

7,023

Cash flows from investing activities

 

−4,007

 

−4,322

Net cash flow

 

2,345

 

2,701

1

The percentage only includes direct non-controlling interests.

The table below shows summarized financial information of the TRATON GROUP, including amortized goodwill and fair value adjustments, which were determined at the acquisition date:

Non-controlling interests in equity – TRATON GROUP

€ million

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interests in %1

 

10.28

 

10.28

Non-controlling interests

 

1,525

 

1,553

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

43,961

 

41,769

Current assets

 

22,804

 

21,101

Non-current liabilities

 

24,873

 

23,272

Current liabilities

 

23,263

 

22,373

 

 

 

 

 

Sales revenue

 

47,473

 

46,872

Earnings after tax

 

2,814

 

2,448

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

−477

 

−25

Dividend paid to non-controlling interest shareholders

 

77

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

Gross cash flow

 

5,654

 

5,263

Change in working capital

 

−3,315

 

−2,680

Cash flows from operating activities

 

2,340

 

2,583

Cash flows from investing activities

 

−2,782

 

−2,385

Net cash flow

 

−442

 

198

1

The percentage only includes direct non-controlling interests.

Hybrid notes
Hybrid notes issued by Volkswagen are classified in their entirety as equity. The issuer has call options at defined dates during their perpetual maturities. They pay a fixed coupon until the first possible call date, followed by a variable rate depending on their terms and conditions.
View glossary