EANS-Adhoc: BWT Aktiengesellschaft
BWT reports first half-year figures
BWT remains on a solid growth path
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6-month report 10.08.2012 "The first half-year was generally marked by a weakening economy in Europa whereas we grew revenues by almost 5% and proceeded with our large investment programme", says Andreas Weissenbacher, CEO of the BWT Group, about the results after the first six months 2012. Consolidated revenues rose from EUR243.5 million by 3.4% to EUR251.7 million. On a like-for-like basis (excluding Zeta sold last year), revenues increased by 4.9%. Point of Use products posted revenue growth of 20.1%, increasing their share in consolidated revenues to 8.2% (previous year: 7.0%). The higher advertising expenses for the establishment of the "BWT" brand as the leading international "water brand" and increased personnel expenses, primarily in connection with the expansion of Point of Use business, compensated the higher gross margin from the revenues growth. In the first half of the year, EBIT declined by 0.5% from EUR17.0 million to EUR16.9 million. The EBIT margin was 6.7% of revenues. Consolidated net earnings after minority interests were EUR7.1 million in the second quarter, only slightly less than the previous year's figure of EUR7.2 million. Cumulated after six months, EUR11.5 million was achieved as against EUR10.8 million in the previous year. As of 30 June 2012, earnings per share were EUR0.68, 7.1% higher than in the previous year, when EUR0.64 per share was generated. As at 30 June 2012, the BWT Group's balance sheet shows equity of EUR169.3 million, i.e. 48.2% of the balance sheet total. Despite the high level of investing activities, the BWT Group's net debt increased only slightly from EUR26.1 million in June of the previous year to EUR27.5 million, while gearing (net financial liabilities to equity ratio) has remained the same at 16.2%. Outlook On the basis of the current economic environment and the results in the first half of the year, the BWT Group's target remains to increase consolidated revenues to EUR500 million in 2012 and to achieve the previous year's consolidated earnings of approximately EUR14 million again. The first half-year financial report is available on our homepage www.bwt-group.com in section "Investor". Further inquiry note: BWT Aktiengesellschaft Mag. Ralf Burchert ralf.burchert@bwt-group.com Tel.: 06232/5011-1113 end of announcement euro adhoc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- issuer: BWT Aktiengesellschaft Walter-Simmer-Str. 4 A-5310 Mondsee phone: 06232/5011-0 FAX: 06232/4058 mail: office@bwt.at WWW: www.bwt-group.com sector: Water Supply ISIN: AT0000737705 indexes: ATX Prime stockmarkets: official market: Wien language: English
Original content of: BWT AG, transmitted by news aktuell