Corporate | 5 May 2008 11:15
INDUS Holding AG / Final Results
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory
AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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- Sales and earnings significantly ahead of budget
- Acquisitions climate improved
Bergisch Gladbach, May 5, 2008 – At today’s Annual Results Press Conference
in Düsseldorf, Helmut Ruwisch, CEO of INDUS Holding AG (ISIN DE0006200108)
expressed his confidence given the strong operative performance of the
INDUS Group and in spite of ongoing turbulence on the capital markets. 'We
have taken a critical view of developments for quite some time now, used
this phase to strengthen our existing portfolio, and intentionally held
back from making acquisitions. We are currently very well positioned and
will be able to proactively acquire medium-sized companies now that the
valuation criteria have returned to acceptable levels.'
Sales and EBIT reach new record levels
The Group’s sales rose by around 10 % to Euro 930 million in the 2007
financial year (previous year: Euro 846 million). The continued expansion
of the Group was thus largely driven by organic growth. Individual
portfolio companies have benefited from the various optimization measures
and efficiency enhancement programs. Costs of materials may have increased
on account of the substantial rise in commodities and energy prices;
however, price increases enabled the materials expense ratio to be
maintained virtually unchanged at 47.0 % (previous year: 46.5 %). The
personnel expense ratio declined further to 26.4 % (previous year: 26.6 %).
Operating earnings (EBIT) showed disproportionate growth of 19 % to set a
new record at Euro 102 million (previous year: Euro 86 million). This
corresponds to an EBIT margin of 11 % (previous year: 10 %). Net financial
expenses changed only slightly, thus enabling earnings before tax (EBT) to
show a significant improvement of 24 % to Euro 77 million (previous year:
Euro 62 million). Due in part to a lower tax rate, consolidated net income
rose by 72 % to Euro 50 million (previous year: Euro 29 million).
Dividend unchanged at Euro 1.20
The joint proposal of the Management and Supervisory Board for the
appropriation of earnings foresees the distribution of an unchanged
dividend of Euro 1.20 per share from the consolidated net income of the
holding company (AG), which amounted to around Euro 53 million. Based on
the current share price, this corresponds to a dividend yield of more than
5 %.
Further growth planned for 2008
In the current financial year, INDUS will focus on further improving the
performance of its existing portfolio and will at the same time press ahead
with its external growth. 'We expect to see a significant decline in
liquidity resources in the wake of the subprime crisis, especially at
private equity companies, which seemed in recent years to have virtually
unlimited liquidity at their disposal', commented Ruwisch. He pointed out
the attractive opportunities arising in the investment market and added
that INDUS would be exploiting these consistently. All in all, the
Management Board expects to generate further growth in sales and earnings
in the 2008 financial year.
05.05.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language: English
Issuer: INDUS Holding AG
Kölner Straße 32
51429 Bergisch Gladbach
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)2204 40 00-0
Fax: +49 (0)2204 40 00-20
E-mail: indus@indus.de
Internet: www.indus.de
ISIN: DE0006200108
WKN: 620010
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Düsseldorf;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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