euro adhoc: Mühlbauer Holding AG & Co.KGaA
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet /
'Ad-hoc message pursuant to § 15 WpHG'
Mühlbauer announces successful financial year 2005 - new record levels in sales
and earnings - 50% higher dividend projected
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
21.03.2006
Roding, March 21, 2006 - Mühlbauer Holding AG & Co. KGaA quoted on the Prime Standard and worldwide active manufacturer of innovative technology solutions for the security industry finished the 2005 financial year with new record levels in sales and earnings.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), which the company determined in accordance with IFRS for the first time, advanced by 21.4% from EUR 27.2 million to EUR 33.1 million. Consolidated earnings before taxes (EBT) rose, due to higher liquidity and the subsequent increase in financial result, from EUR 27.9 million to EUR 34.7 million. This corresponds to a pretax profit margin of 23.4% (PY 21.6%) and thus to higher year-on-year growth. Net earnings rose 29.2% to EUR 23.0 million (PY EUR 17.8 million), which corresponds to an earnings per share of EUR 1.59. This year's earnings per share outperformed last year's EUR 1.23 by 29.3%. Backed by the positive business development, the personally liable shareholder and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of EUR 0.90 per share to the Annual General Meeting. This is a 50.0% increase over the previous year ( EUR 0.60).
Cash generated form operating activities also increased and rose, compared to the already high level of last year (EUR 46.5 million), by another 3.3% to EUR 48.0 million. Free cashflow of EUR 22.7 million was down 16.3% on the level of last year (EUR 27.2 million) largely due to scheduled tax payments that were EUR 10.4 million higher in the previous year.
The rise in demand for technology solutions in respect of the production of security-oriented identification documents and Smart Labels positively affected the company's sales development in 2005. With sales worth EUR 148.1 million* (PY EUR 129.1 million), the company generated new record sales and exceeded last year by 14.7%.
In order book Mühlbauer posted a order income of a total of EUR 165.0 million and, even in the face of the significantly weaker trend in the semiconductor industry, only remained slightly down on last year's EUR 174.7 million. The order backlog at the end of the reporting period amounted to EUR 81.7 million and was up 21.5% above the level of previous year (EUR 67.2 million).
For the future trend in business, the company considers itself well positioned. The extension of the product portfolio in the TECURITY® market, the establishment of the company in strategically important projects as well as comprehensive and transparent solution concepts are excellent conditions to immediately participate from the growth in SmartID. Mühlbauer is, above that, excellently prepared for the projected growth in RFID, assuming fiercer competition and pricing pressure. On the basis of the recovery in the semiconductor industry, the company anticipates for Semiconductor Related Products a business development, which at least corresponds with the general trend. Also in the medium term, Mühlbauer expects business to develop positively. In so doing the company is still targeting organic growth that is to be supplemented by selected minor acquisitions.
*Sales figures are gross values before subtraction of any deductions on sales proceeds of EUR 0.2 million (PY 0.2 million)
Contact and additional information: Investor Relations, Tel.: +49 (0) 9461-952-653, Fax: +49 (0) 9461-952-8520, investor-relations@muehlbauer.de, Mühlbauer Holding AG & Co. KGaA, Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 3, D-93426 Roding, www.muehlbauer.de.
end of announcement euro adhoc 21.03.2006 07:55:00
Further inquiry note:
Hubert Forster
CFO
+49(0)9461-952-141
hubert.forster@muehlbauer.de
Branche: Machine Manufacturing
ISIN: DE0006627201
WKN: 662720
Index: Nemax 50, CDAX, Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / regulated dealing/prime
standard
Börse Berlin-Bremen / free trade
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