Ad-hoc | 12 March 2002 07:26

Bechtle AG english

Bechtle achieves over 70 percent profit growth Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Bechtle achieves over 70 percent profit growth Bechtle achieved profit growth (result after taxes) of 73.8 percent, to 9.01 million Euro, in 2001. Group sales rose 31.3 percent to 641.53 million Euro. This means that Bechtle has exceeded its sales target of 614 million Euro. The EBITDA was 24,26 million Euro. The result before income taxes and minority interest (EBT) of 14.42 million Euro were less than the planned 16.4 million Euro. While other similar companies listed on the Neuer Markt were writing red figures, Bechtle was able to set itself apart in a positive sense from the market’s poor performance in 2001. Turnover grew not only as a result of acquisitions but also due to fairly stable trade in commercial products and services. The company’s organic growth was 17.8 percent. High volume of business up to the end of November offset charges due to unscheduled acquisitions (including TDS Infrastrukturservice GmbH). As a result, Bechtle reached its planned figures up to the end of November. Only in December did business fell well short of expectations. Hence, the company able to escape the downtrend in the market almost over the whole year. As for its outlook on the market, Bechtle expects economic activity to pick up in the second half of the year. The market will also continue its process of consolidation. These shake-outs in the market will ultimately help to improve the company’s competitive situation. Bechtle will be presenting its results in detail at the balance sheet press conference in Stuttgart on 27 March. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 12.03.2002 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 515870; ISIN: DE0005158703; Index: Listed: Neuer Markt Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, München, Hamburg, Hannover und Stuttgart 120726 Mär 02