FC Bayern were again in a class of their own on the pitch in the 2017/18 season as they claimed their sixth successive Bundesliga title – and the record German champions also set more new records on the financial front. The group’s turnover (including all subsidiaries) rose to a record high of €657.4 million during the last financial year. Operating profit (EBITDA) came to €136.5 million, while profit before tax was €46.2 million. The annual net profit of €29.5 million after tax is the third-highest in the club’s 118-year history.
“FC Bayern München is once again able to present outstanding figures for turnover and profit in the 2017/18 fiscal year. Our members, staff and the club’s friends have every reason to be proud of them,” stated FC Bayern München AG deputy chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen. “Our FC Bayern rests on very solid foundations. This ever-increasing financial power allows us to make the necessary investment in our first-team squad to ensure we remain competitive among the footballing elite in Europe.”
The results were also very pleasing for FC Bayern München AG, which posted turnover of €624.3 million, bettering last year’s record (€603.1 million). Annual profit after tax came to €22 million, the second-highest figure in the club’s history after the previous year (€33.2 million). FC Bayern München AG also managed to increase its equity capital from €445.8 million to €451.3 million.
CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge declared himself “very pleased” with the financial year just ended: “Alongside the sporting success of winning the German title and the good performance in the Champions League, these results are proof that FC Bayern also had a very good season financially,” said Rummenigge, who has led the record German champions to profit for the 26thconsecutive year.
2017/18 Financial summary | Group annual report 2017/18 | AG annual report 2017/18 | Membership growth
The latest excellent figures were driven by income from sponsorship and marketing (€189.4 million), match operations (€172.7 million), merchandising (€91.8 million) and transfer fees (€28.2 million). Income from TV rights stood at €107.8 million. FC Bayern München AG’s biggest expenditure is personnel costs at €302.5 million, although tax payments were also at a record level, totalling a considerable €213.4 million for the 2017/18 financial year.
As well as the German tax authorities, the FC Bayern München AG shareholders can also be happy about “the pleasing results” (Dreesen) of the past financial year: “The board and advisory board therefore propose a dividend of 40 cents per share, resulting in a total distribution of €12 million and a dividend of €9 million for FC Bayern München eV,” Dreesen stated.
There was an upward trend in membership too. With 291,000members (as of 30 November 2018), the German record champions have recorded another increase (290,000 in 2017). The number of official fan clubs has also increased from 4,327 last year to 4,433, with over 390,000 members belonging to one. The FC Bayern KidsClub remains very popular, with membership virtually unchanged at 43,341 members.
“I would like to thank my fellow board members, all our colleagues, the coaching staff and the team, as well as our partners and everybody who has contributed to this good result,” summarised Dreesen, rounding off his address. “Let’s keep it going!”
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