euro adhoc: Süd-Chemie AG
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet
Successful year in
2005
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
07.04.2006
Successful year in 2005
Sales up by 16% to EUR933 million Operating profit (EBIT) rose by 39% to EUR70 million and after-tax profits by 202% to almost EUR59 million 61% dividend increase planned to EUR1.00 per share Continued rise in earnings expected in 2006
Following the close of the Supervisory Board meeting held to approve the financial statements 2005, Süd-Chemie publishes the main key figures from the Group´s consolidated financial statements for its very successful year 2005. For the first time, these have been drawn up in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Thanks to a positive economic environment, but even more to the strategic measures realised as planned by the two divisions of Adsorbents and Catalysts, Süd-Chemie performed very successfully, notably in its core areas, exceeding the sales and earnings targets previously forecast.
Adjusted for operations sold, consolidated sales showed a year-on-year rise of EUR130.1 million in 2005, or 16.2%, to reach EUR933.1 million. The operating profit (EBIT) reported by continuing activities rose by 38.6% to EUR70.0 million. After deduction of mainly interest and tax payments and addition of the profit from discontinued operations amounting to EUR28.4 million, a total after-tax profit of EUR58.6 million was generated in 2005.
The free cash flow of EUR80.1 million (2004: EUR2.1 million) was for the most part used to reduce net financial liabilities (financial liabilities less cash and cash equivalents) by EUR64.2 million to EUR197.8 million. A major contribution came from the sale of the rheological and Copisil business at the end of 2005, with proceeds amounting to EUR63.5 million. At balance sheet date, the equity ratio for the Süd-Chemie Group stood at 38.0% (2004: 33.2%). As a result of the successful year in 2005, the Süd-Chemie AG Supervisory Board and Managing Board will be proposing a dividend of EUR1.00 per Süd-Chemie share (last year: EUR0.62) to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 13 June 2006.
In view of the confident mood on the markets of significance to Süd-Chemie and the good start to 2006, positive business performance is again forecast for the full year, resulting in organic growth to around EUR985 million. Operating profit (EBIT) is scheduled to grow even faster than sales, increasing at a rate of at least 10%.
The full financial statements for 2005, an overview of business performance during the first quarter of 2006 and the outlook for the full year, as well as the Group´s ongoing strategic policy will be presented at the annual press conference to be held in Munich, Lenbachplatz 6, at 10.00 a.m. on 24 April 2006. On the same day, the Annual Report will be available at www.sud-chemie.com from 10.00 a.m. onwards.
Munich, 7 April 2006
Contact: Patrick Salchow Group Vice President Corporate Public Relations Süd-Chemie AG Phone: +49 (0)89 5110-250 Fax: +49 (0)89 5110-156
Statements relating to future events This report contains statements relating to future events based on current estimates made by the management with respect to prospective developments. Such statements are subject to uncertainties and risks which Süd-Chemie is neither able to control nor accurately assess, including for instance future market conditions and the economic environment, the behaviour of other market participants or governmental measures. Should any one of these or other uncertain or imponderable factors take effect, or should assumptions on which the statements are based prove to be incorrect, the actual results may differ significantly from those explicitly defined or implicitly contained in these statements. Süd-Chemie neither intends nor undertakes a specific obligation to update statements relating to future events in order to adjust these in line with events or developments occurring after the date of this report.
Süd-Chemie (www.sud-chemie.com) is an independent specialty chemical company headquartered in Munich and operating on a worldwide scale. Key markets served by its Adsorbents Division include the consumer-goods, packaging and foundry industries. Products manufactured by the Catalysts Division offer solutions for water treatment, petrochemicals processing, energy storage and hydrogen production, as well as off-gas purification. The common denominator for all its products and innovations is the efficient and sparing use of natural resources to enhance the quality of life for humans and the environment. Sales of EUR933 million were generated in 2005, about 80% of these outside Germany. Süd-Chemie employs more than 5,100 people at its more than 70 sales and production sites around the world.
end of announcement euro adhoc 07.04.2006 11:22:07
Further inquiry note:
Patrick Salchow
Tel.: +49 (0)89 5110 250
E-Mail: patrick.salchow@sud-chemie.com
Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE0007292005
WKN: 729200
Börsen: Börse Berlin-Bremen / regulated dealing
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bayerische Börse / official dealing