Corporate | 28 November 2008 10:00


INDUS satisfied with sales and earnings growth

INDUS Holding AG / Quarter Results

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- INDUS intends to make anti-cyclical acquisitions -

Bergisch Gladbach, November 28, 2008 - INDUS Holding AG, which is listed in
the SDAX, generated further sales and earnings growth in the first nine
months of 2008 and thus surpassed the strong performance posted in the
previous year. 'In view of the difficult economic situation, we are
satisfied with our operating performance', declared Helmut Ruwisch,
Chairman of the Board of Management of INDUS Holding AG, and pointed to the
opportunities available on the investment market. 'Valuation levels for
medium-sized companies have returned to an attractive range. We aim to
exploit this situation and to draw on our comfortable supply of liquidity
to expand our portfolio. A first step has already been taken with the
complete takeover of the Köster Group. Further steps are due to follow in
the course of the coming financial year.

Year-on-year growth in first nine months of 2008 
Consolidated sales rose by 3.7 % compared with the first nine months of
2007 to reach Euro 709.9 million. The negative impact of high commodity and
energy costs could be mitigated by the optimization measures implemented.
At Euro 76.0 million, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were thus
slightly ahead of the equivalent figure of Euro 75.6 million for the
previous year. Having accounted for higher tax expenses than in the
previous year, income after taxes for the period amounted to Euro 35.8
million (previous year: Euro 37.2 million).

Decline in momentum in third quarter of 2008 
Sales in the third quarter of 2008 grew by 5.0 % to Euro 242.9 million
(previous year: Euro 231.3 million). As a result of higher cost burdens,
especially the 3.1 percentage point increase in the materials expense
ratio, operating earnings reduced to Euro 23.3 million (previous year: Euro
26.0 million). Income after taxes for the period amounted to Euro 8.9
million. Due to a one-off tax item, this figure is not comparable with the
previous year’s figure.

Confident for 2008 financial year as a whole 
'We are confident that we will reach our targets for the 2008 financial
year as a whole in spite of the marked slowdown in the economy,' confirmed
Ruwisch. The Board of Management currently expects the company to generate
annual sales of approximately Euro 960 million with an operating EBIT
margin of around 10 %.
28.11.2008  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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