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Westag & Getalit AG

euro adhoc: Westag & Getalit AG
quarterly or semiannual financial statement / Strong sales and earnings growth in first half of 2006; Dividend of EUR 0.48 per ordinary share and EUR 0.54 per preference share for 2005 approved

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
  The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
08.08.2006
The most recent data from the Federal Statistical Office are
apparently indicating a turnaround in the German construction sector
for the first time in ten years; incoming orders in the building
construction sector were up 9.7 % year-on-year in the first five
months of 2006. Westag & Getalit AG increased its H1 2006 sales by
15.4 % to EUR 95.4 million, even though it has to be taken into
account that the H1 2005 sales were relatively weak at EUR 82.6
million. Clear double-digit growth in exports was again reported by
all three Divisions, with sales rising by 37.7 % to EUR 22.5 million
(previous year: EUR 16.3 million). The export share climbed to 23.6 %
(previous year: 19.8 %).
Although raw materials prices once again increased over the previous
year, our H1 2006 earnings before income taxes advanced noticeably to
EUR 5.1 million (previous year: EUR 1.5 million) due to an increase
in sales and a decline in staff costs as a percentage of sales. Net
profit rose to EUR 3.1 million (previous year: EUR 0.9 million),
while DVFA/SG earnings per share grew to EUR 0.56 (previous year: EUR
0.16). Instituted on January 1, 2006, our working time model
permitted to boost sales and profits virtually without increasing the
absolute personnel expenses. This led to a substantial decline in our
staff cost ratio which was down to 30.3 % from 34.6 % in the
comparative first half of the previous year.
Today’s Annual General Meeting in Rheda-Wiedenbrück endorsed the
payment of an unchanged dividend of EUR 0.48 per ordinary share and
of EUR 0.54 per preference share for the financial year 2005.
Management is confident about the further course of 2006,
anticipating additional major stimulation particularly on the export
side of our business. While the increase in first-half sales is not
likely to be repeated for the full year 2006 on account of the uneven
quarter-on-quarter trend recorded in 2005, we expect to report good
growth for the current financial year as a whole. Our year-end result
will largely be determined by the continued price increases in our
raw materials markets and the price development of our finished
products. As parts of our customer base are experiencing difficult
trading conditions in highly competitive markets, upward adjustments
of our prices are somewhat difficult at this time. Given the
indicators of a recovery in the German economy, we nevertheless
assume that a moderate price increase is attainable. All in all we
expect to report another good annual result.
end of announcement                               euro adhoc 08.08.2006 13:01:07

Further inquiry note:

Felix Huisgen
Tel.: +49 (0)5242 17 5350
E-Mail: huisgen@westag-getalit.de

Branche: Building materials
ISIN: DE0007775207
WKN: 777520
Index: Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / official dealing/prime standard
Börse Berlin-Bremen / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade

Original content of: Westag & Getalit AG, transmitted by news aktuell

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