KOENIG & BAUER AG / Final Results
31.03.2008
Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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In 2007 Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) posted group sales worth EUR1,703.7m, not far
off the previous year's record figure of EUR1,741.9m. But at EUR1,546.9m the
volume of new orders was 6.2% lower (2006: EUR1,649.7m) following the
economic downturn in the US, weaker demand for big press lines and a slump
in demand for gravure presses. The order backlog shrank accordingly to
EUR791.9m, from EUR948.7m a year earlier.
But the impact of higher material and labour costs, and provisions for
capacity adjustments at web press production plants, was more than offset
by systematic cost reductions and improved margins on goods shipped. As a
result operating profit jumped from EUR46.2m in 2006 to EUR65.7m. Pre-tax
earnings (EBT) soared to EUR63.2m (2006: EUR47.4m) and group profit climbed to
EUR49m (2006: EUR34.3m), though there was a modest financial loss. Earnings per
share rose to EUR3 (2006: EUR2.11). The parent's retained earnings, which
determine dividend payments to shareholders, fell to EUR10.8m (2006: EUR16.1m).
Nonetheless, at the annual shareholders' meeting in Würzburg on 19 June the
management and supervisory boards will propose paying out EUR9.8m -
equivalent to a dividend of 60 cents (2006: 50 cents).
President and CEO Albrecht Bolza-Schünemann says: 'Provided the global
economy remains on a relatively steady footing, we anticipate group sales
for 2008 of around EUR1.6 billion and group earnings before taxes (EBT) on a
par with 2007. But in view of the current scenario and the associated
risks, we are unable to make more precise projections at this point in
time. When the Drupa international trade fair closes its doors in June we
shall have a clearer idea of developments in key overseas markets, the
investment climate in our industry and our prospects for the rest of the
year and beyond.'
31.03.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language: English
Issuer: KOENIG & BAUER AG
Friedrich-Koenig Straße 4
97080 Würzburg
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)931 909-4835
Fax: +49 (0)931 909-6015
E-mail: bernd.heusinger@kba-print.de
Internet: www.kba-print.de
ISIN: DE0007193500
WKN: 719350
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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