euro adhoc: Westag & Getalit AG
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet
Sales above
prior years level thanks to strong third quarter; Profits weighed down by
higher costs of materials
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
28.10.2005
Data released by the Federal Statistical Office shows that incoming orders in the building construction sector declined by another 8.2% between January and August 2005. Westag & Getalit AG defied this trend and completed the third quarter with a gratifying 1.5% increase in nine-month sales which rose to EUR 127.4 million (previous year: EUR 125.5 million).
Export sales rose by 18.4 % to EUR 25.2 million. As already reported at the half-year term, our export share now amounts to 19.8%, meaning that we have effectively reached the 20% target repeatedly pointed to in our guidance. All three divisions contributed sizeable double-digit growth rates to this result.
Earnings before income taxes for the nine-month period came in at EUR 3,476 thousand (previous year: EUR 4,951 thousand). This year-on-year decline was chiefly caused by considerably higher raw materials prices. DVFA/SG earnings per share were down to EUR 0.39 (2004: EUR 0.56).
The situation in our industry remains characterised by oversupply and the absence of incentives for consumers to give up their spending restraint.
Demand in Germany is set to remain weak. As customers continue to attach ever greater importance to low prices, we are forced to push ahead our ongoing rationalisation measures. Exports of our products are growing in importance. The success achieved so far vindicates our focus on this business segment.
Notwithstanding the pressure on our prices and the increased raw materials prices, we believe that the positive sales trend as well as the most recently improved profit trend support our expectation of appropriate earnings to be reported also for the full financial year, even though it will not be possible to match the very good profit level of the previous year.
end of announcement euro adhoc 28.10.2005 12:45:40
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 Standard, Prime All Share
Börsen: Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB) / free trade
Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / official dealing