Ad-hoc | 9 March 2004 07:29

FY 2003: technotrans adjusts balance sheet and raises dividend

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– FY 2003: technotrans adjusts balance sheet and raises dividend Higher revenue improves rate of return / comprehensive adjustment of balance sheet results in net loss for the year / higher dividend signals end to crisis technotrans, a leading systems supplier of equipment for the printing industry and for micro technologies, passed beyond the nadir mid-way through 2003. A renewed downturn in sales in the first half of the year was followed by two better quarters, the latter of which brought growth rates in excess of 9 percent. Earnings totalled 106.7 million euros (previous year 117.0 million, – 8.8 percent). Gross profit for 2003 of 35.9 million euros was just 4.7 percent down on the previous year (37.7 million euros), while the margin improved from 32.2 percent to 33.7 percent. The operating profit (EBIT) improved from 5.9 million euros to 7.5 million, representing a margin of 7 percent. Whereas the prior-year figures were diminished by a provision to cover a patent dispute, slightly more than 1.6 million euros were spent on consultancy services in 2003 in connection with the planned acquisition. Balance-sheet adjustments (valuation allowances for goodwill and the write-off of deferred taxes) were the main factors behind a net loss for the year of just under 11 million euros in 2003. A proposal to increase the dividend from 0.20 to 0.30 euros will be made to the Shareholders’ Meeting on May 28, 2004. At December 31, 2003 there were 596 (previous year 621) employees, a decrease of 4 percent. Capacity was increased again in the second half of the year. Download: The comprehensive press release as well as the full 2003 Annual Report can be downloaded from the Internet on http://www.technotrans.de , under News resp. Investor Relations Contact: Thessa Roderig, Investor Relations, roderig@technotrans.de end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 09.03.2004 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 744900; ISIN: DE0007449001; Index: NEMAX 50 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 090729 Mär 04