FC Bayern were again in a class of their own on the pitch in the 2018/19 season, claiming their seventh German championship title in a row, winning their 19th DFB Cup, and sealing the domestic double for the 12th time. But the German record champions surpassed even that success on the financial front, achieving record results.
The turnover figure for FC Bayern München AG group (including all subsidiaries) rose by more than €90 million from €654.7 million last year to a new all-time best of €750.4 million. The profit before tax stood at €75.3 million, the annual surplus rising by 78 percent to €52.5 million, both absolute best marks in the club's almost 120-year history.
Record turnover and profit
"FC Bayern München is once again able to present record figures for turnover and profit to its members, staff and friends," stated FC Bayern München AG deputy chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen. Even though lucrative revenue streams were lost compared to last year due to the Round of 16 exit from the Champions League, the turnover rose by 14.1 percent. The German record champions were profitable for the 27th time in a row.
The results were also very pleasing for FC Bayern München AG. Last year's record turnover of €624.3 million rose to €715.8 million, surpassing the 700-million mark for the first time. The FC Bayern München AG equity capital rose from €451.3 millon to €497 million. "FC Bayern rests on very solid foundations, which allows us to make the necessary investment in our first-team squad despite the increasingly difficult transfer situation," Dreesen added.
FC Bayern's maxim is "not maximum profit but maximum sporting success," the 52-year old said: "In the competition for top talents, we think we remain competitive among the professional footballing elite in Europe thanks to the increase in our financial power. All our commercial endeavors continue to serve this objective," stressed Dreesen.
2018/19 Financial summary | Group annual report 2018/19 | AG annual report 2018/19
The new best-ever figures were driven by income from sponsorship and marketing (€196.5 million), match operations (179.1), merchandising (91.5) and transfer fees (90.3). Income from TV rights marketing was €124.5 million, still a low figure in international terms.
FC Bayern München AG’s biggest expenditure is personnel costs at €336.2 million. Operating costs stood at € 227.8 million. It should not go unmentioned that the company remitted taxes totalling € 243.9 million, a significant amount.
FC Bayern München AG shareholders can be pleased with the excellent results from the last fiscal year. "The board and supervisory board propose an increase in dividend payments to 50 cents per share, resulting in a total distribution of €15 million and a dividend of €11.25 million for FC Bayern München eV," stated Dreesen, who thanked his "fellow board members, all our staff, the coaching staff and the team, our partners and everybody who has contributed to these outstanding results."
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