VLB General Assembly 2022 elects new Administrative Board

The recent annual General Assembly of VLB Berlin e.V. took place on October 10, 2022, in Berlin. The VLB management reported on a positively concluded fiscal year 2021. In the regular new elections, the existing Administrative Board with President Ulrich Rust was confirmed in its current composition for another four years.

(oh) VLB President Ulrich Rust chaired the meeting and was pleased that it could be held in person for the first time since 2019. Subsequently, the two VLB Managing Directors Dr. Josef Fontaine and Gerhard Andreas Schreiber reported on the fiscal year 2021. This year was also determined for VLB by the continuing challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic. Nevertheless, revenues increased compared to the previous year and a positive result was achieved. In terms of revenue, analytical services and events in particular developed positively. Third-party research also showed growth. Overall, the total revenues of VLB in 2021 increased to € 10.45 million (+7.0 %). With a slight decrease in the cost of materials and depreciation, a positive annual result of 359 T€ was reported (2020: -355 T€). This surplus was transferred to the reserves, so that the equity ratio of VLB increased to

28.6 % on the balance sheet date 31 December 2021 (2020: 23.7%).

Positive news also on the aspect of VLB memberships, which remained stable. Some resignations could be compensated by several new members. As of 31 December 2021, 350 members (of which 320 companies) supported the work of the VLB. As of the same date, 134 people were employed at the VLB.

The General Meeting unanimously discharged the Administrative Board and the Executive Board.

“Despite unfavorable general conditions in the past and a challenging fiscal year 2021, VLB has achieved a gratifying annual surplus,” VLB

President Ulrich Rust commented on the results. He thanked the management and the entire VLB staff for their successful work.

The outlook for fiscal 2022, on the other hand, remained subdued. The extreme rise in energy costs in Germany, the effects of the war in Ukraine and an unusually long freeze on federal research funding made VLB's business challenging in 2022.

New Board of Directors

Another item on the agenda was the election of the new Administrative Board. The board decides on all fundamental matters concerning the VLB and is therefore one of the three steering bodies of the VLB, together with the General Meeting and the management. It is elected for a period of four years by the General Meeting. It may consist of a maximum of nine members, seven of whom must be actively involved in a member company with voting rights. Up to two members may be actively engaged in a non-voting member company or be neutral actively engaged persons from science or administration. The work in this body is an honorary office. After the previous election had taken place in October 2018, a new regular election was required in 2022. All previous office holders stood for re-election for a further period and were re-elected without any dissenting votes. The next VLB General Assembly is scheduled for October 9, 2023, in Berlin.

(from left): The VLB Managing Directors Gerhard Andreas Schreiber and Dr. Josef Fontaine with the newly elected members of the Administrative Board: Michael Jakob (Carlsberg Supply Chain), Uwe Ebbighausen (CUE.X), Horst Müller (EFES), Ulrich Rust (Gerolsteiner Brunnen), Dr. Stefan Lustig (EFES), Dr. Stefan Kreisz (Erdinger Weißbräu) and Jan Steffes (Gerolsteiner Brunnen). Wolfgang Janssen (Radeberger Gruppe) and Ulrich Brendel (Warsteiner Brauerei) were not on site but accepted the election