EANS-News: GESCO confirms guidance after the first quarter
Wuppertal (euro adhoc) -
- Recession leads to declines in sales and incoming orders as expected - Net income distinctly positive - Liquidity and equity remain at a high level - Environment for acquisitions has improved
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shares/Q1 report
Wuppertal, 12 August 2009 - As anticipated, the recession started to have an impact on the SDAX listed investment holding company GESCO AG in the first quarter (1 Apr. to 30 June 2009) of the 2009/2010 financial year (1 Apr. 2009 to 31 Mar. 2010). Aside from a few exceptions, the companies of GESCO Group recorded a decline in operating business.
In the first quarter of the previous year, incoming orders amounted to EUR 115.6 million, the highest figure in the company´s history. In contrast, incoming orders in the first quarter of the current 2009/2010 financial year totalled EUR 61.4 million. Group sales amounted to EUR 73.6 million and were 20.3 % down on the EUR 92.4 million recorded in the previous year´s period.
EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) totalled EUR 7.5 million and was 46.1 % below the previous year´s value of EUR 13.9 million. Since depreciation and amortisation remained almost unchanged compared to the previous year´s quarter, EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) recorded an even stronger decrease and amounted to EUR 4.9 million (previous year´s period EUR 11.4 million). Group net income after minority interest totalled EUR 2.5 million compared to EUR 6.2 million in the first quarter of the previous year. This corresponds to earnings per share according to IFRS of EUR 0.83 (EUR 2.03).
The Group´s workforce amounted to 1,762 employees on the reporting date. This was up on the value of 1,719 for the previous year´s reporting date, yet below the 1,795 at the end of the financial year (31 March 2009).
The Group balance sheet still has exceptionally healthy structures: Liquid assets amounted to EUR 27.0 million and equity totalled EUR 105.7 million, which corresponds to an equity ratio of 38 %.
The environment for company acquisitions has generally improved. In April 2009, GESCO AG took over Georg Kesel GmbH & Co. KG in Kempten, a niche provider in milling machines and clamping technology. Further industrial SMEs are currently being reviewed with a view to a takeover, even if huge economic uncertainty makes it difficult to put a value on companies.
Based on information available to date, the company confirms its guidance released at the accounts press conference on 25 June 2009 (Group sales between EUR 280 million and EUR 310 million, Group net income after minority interest between EUR 7 million and EUR 10.5 million and earnings per share between EUR 2.31 and EUR 3.47).
Full interim report at www.gesco.de
About GESCO AG GESCO AG is the parent company of a group of small and medium-sized industrial companies. GESCO acquires successful niche providers, generally as part of succession arrangements, in order to retain and further develop these long term. As an SDAX listed company GESCO AG offers private and institutional investors access to SMEs.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Oliver Vollbrecht
Leiter Investor Relations
T.: +49(0)202 24820 18
info@gesco.de
Branche: Economy, Business & Finance
ISIN: DE0005875900
WKN: 587590
Index: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade