Corporate | 30 August 2006 09:05

Pironet NDH records double-digit rise in profits

Corporate news transmitted by DGAP – a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Cologne, Germany, August 30, 2006: Pironet NDH has continued its profitable growth trend. With the best 1st quarter in the company’s history now being followed by the best 2nd quarter, this has also resulted in record figures for the first six months of the year. Turnover rose by 7.5 % to EUR 20.4 million, with EUR 10 million (EUR 9.4 million) attributable to the months January to March and EUR 10.4 million (EUR 9.6 million) to the months April to June. The earnings figures showed an even sharper improvement compared with turnover. The increase in profitability was achieved by sheer hard work, as the expansion of our product range resulted in a tangible increase in customer interest. The requisite advance work, for instance in terms of tenders or large project enquiries, led to a fall in gross margins from 48.5 % to 44.3 %. However, this decline was more than balanced out thanks to strict and forward-looking costs management, the measures introduced producing a commendable fall in operating costs from 43.9 % to 39.0 %. EBIT rose by almost 25 % to EUR 1.1 million, with a corresponding increase in the EBIT margin from 4.6 % to 5.3 %. Including the financial results, which remained unchanged at EUR 0.3 million, pre-tax profits rose from EUR 1.2 million to EUR 1.3 million. Below the line, profits after tax increased by 25 % to EUR 1 million. Pironet NDH is admirably positioned and confident of reaping the potential benefits in the future and the extremely high level of investment in new and innovative products is already bearing its first fruits. Customer feedback is encouraging and results show an upward trend. The Board of Directors is therefore anticipating further growth in both sales and earnings in the second half-year compared with the levels achieved in the first six months of the year. The forecast for 2006 remains unchanged at EUR 42 million in sales with an even higher trend of profits. In view of the current level of orders in hand of some EUR 40 million, we are confident of meeting this forecast. In addition, liquid funds including securities held for trading purposes totalling EUR 27.3 million provides us with a wide range of options for our policy of further active consolidation in the sector. The Board of Directors For further information, please contact: Pironet NDH AG Investor Relations Theodor Heuss Str. 92 – 100 D-51149 Köln Tel.: +49 (0)2203/935 30 3951 Fax: +49 (0)2203/935 30 3959 ir@pironet-ndh.com www.pironet-ndh.com/ir (c)DGAP 30.08.2006 ————————————————————————— Language: English Issuer: Pironet NDH AG Theodor – Heuss Strasse 92 – 100 51149 Köln Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)220 393530 – 39 Fax: +49 (0)220 393530 – 39 E-mail: ir@pironet-ndh.com WWW: www.pironet-ndh.com ISIN: DE0006916406 WKN: 691640 Indices: Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (General Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Hannover, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service —————————————————————————