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Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG

euro adhoc: Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet
Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG increases dividend - 25% dividend increase suggested; pre-tax profit up 57 % to MEUR 24.4; order backlog more than tripled

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
  The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
05.03.2006
Ternitz/Vienna, March 6, 2006. Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment
AG (SBO), listed on the ATX of the Vienna Stock Exchange, confirms
the preliminary figures announced in January for the past business
year 2005. According to the now final figures the group’s sales
revenues totalled MEUR 172.7,  up 14 % from the previous year. Profit
before tax improved to MEUR 24.4 (following MEUR 15.5) in 2005, an
increase of 57%.
In view of the successful performance in 2005, the Executive Board
will suggest to the Shareholders’ Meeting to distribute a dividend of
30 cents plus a bonus of 20 cents per share, in total 50 cents
(following 40 eurocents). As the number of shares was increased to 16
million (following 13 million) last year, the sum distributed to
SBO’s shareholders went up 54% from MEUR 5.2 to 8.0.
"At the moment, we see a remarkable upswing in the oilfield service
industry which is driven by the growing demand for energy in the
emerging markets and the intensified activities of the international
oil companies to develop new oil and gas reservoirs", comments Gerald
Grohmann, SBO’s Chief Executive Officer, on the current business
development. Additionally, SBO as the global market leader in
high-precision components for the oilfield service industry, benefits
from the growing complexity of technological requirements in the
industry. Due to the development of a new high-performance motor, the
drilling motor business also experiences enormous growth.
Increasing demand for oil triggered growth in 2005
According to preliminary estimates by IEA (International Energy
Agency) global oil consumption rose to 83.3 million barrels per day
(following 82.2 million barrels per day in 2004). The major share of
that increase was due to the high energy demand of the developing
countries. The global rig count, an important indicator of drilling
activities, went up from 2,555 units at the end of 2004 to 2,993 at
the end of 2005.
"In the medium run, this strong demand for oil and gas can be covered
only by the continuous exploration of new reservoirs, which triggered
the enormous rise in drilling activities in 2005. This, in turn,
resulted in a strong demand for equipment for the oilfield service
industry", says Mr Grohmann. The current market environment was
reflected at Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment in an
unprecedented order backlog (as per December 31, 2005) which more
than tripled over the previous year and reached MEUR 134.0 (following
MEUR 38.8). The level of bookings went up 66% to reach impressive
MEUR 269.
SBO continues course of growth
"We set the course of SBO towards growth already two years ago and
prepared the company well for the current upswing. Additionally, in
order to secure this course of success, we carried out the largest
investment in the history of the company in 2005", comments Gerald
Grohmann on the 129% increase of capital expenditures worth MEUR 22.9
and the decision taken in 2005 to expand capacities and the
construction of a new forgery at the Ternitz site. Apart from the
already initiated intensive organic growth, SBO also takes into
account potential acquisitions.
The course of growth became possible due to the capital increase
carried out in the first quarter of 2005.  The proceeds from the
emission amounting to MEUR 54 will be used by SBO to finance the
strategic investment programme scheduled until 2007.  The programme
will enable SBO to fully participate in the upswing anticipated by
the oilfield service industry in the next years and to further
strengthen the leading technological position of the company.
Excellent development of SBO share
The SBO share ended the 2005 trading year at a closing price of EUR
24.65, which is an increase of 56 % over the year. With the capital
market transaction conducted in the first quarter of 2005, which
consisted of a capital increase and a Secondary Public Offering by
former majority shareholder Berndorf AG, Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield
Equipment turned into a publicly held company. The capital market
responded most positively to the increased free float of
approximately 64 %, which was reflected in a marked increase of the
share’s liquidity. Thus, the daily average number of shares traded
was 74,756 shares (double counting). SBO was included in the ATX in
the spring of 2005.
Outlook into the first quarter and the 2006 business year
For 2006, the International Energy Agency predicts an increase of the
worldwide demand for oil of around 2.2 % to 85.1 million barrels per
day. The customers of Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment
anticipate a sustained upward cycle of the industry, which is
reflected in long-term orders - rather untypical of the industry.
While in regular years the time horizon of orders was two quarters at
most, orders with delivery dates until 2007 were received from the
second half of 2005 on.
Against this background, Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment
expects the positive development of the company to continue
throughout 2006 and the course of growth to be further accelerated.
2005      2004
Sales revenues            172.7     152.2
EBIT                       25.5      17.9
EBIT margin (%)            14.7      11.8
Profit before tax          24.4      15.5
Net income                 17.3      10.8
Capital expenditures       22.9      10.0
Earnings per share          1.13      0.83
Dividend per share          0.50*     0.40
Headcount                 913       809**
* suggested  ** adjusted for the Bafco subsidiary divested in the
first quarter of 2005
Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG is the global market leader
in high-precision components for the oilfield service industry. The
business focus is on non-magnetic drillstring components for
directional drilling. Worldwide, SBO employs a workforce of 913,
currently 234 at Ternitz, Lower Austria, and 468 in North America
(including Mexico).
Financial calendar 2006
March 23, 2006        Shareholders’ Meeting
April 6, 2006         Ex-day, dividend payout day
May 24, 2006          Q1/2006 result
August 24, 2006       Q2/2006 result
November 23, 2006     Q3/2006 result
end of announcement                               euro adhoc 06.03.2006 08:00:00

Further inquiry note:

Gerald Grohmann, CEO
Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG
A-2630 Ternitz, Hauptstraße 2
Tel: +43 2630/315 ext 110, fax: ext 101
E-Mail: sboe@sbo.co.at

Mick Stempel, Hochegger|Financials
Tel: +43 1/504 69 87 ext 85
E-Mail: m.stempel@hochegger.com

Branche: Oil & Gas - Upstream activities
ISIN: AT0000946652
WKN: 907391
Index: WBI, ATX Prime
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official dealing

Original content of: Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG, transmitted by news aktuell

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