Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is publishing its
financial statements for the first six months of financial year
2007/2008 (April 1 to September 30, 2007). At 1.639 billion Euro,
Heidelberg Group sales in the first six months of the year remained
at last year's high level (previous year: EUR 1.628 billion)
despite the strength of the euro. After adjustments for exchange
rate movements, they would be three percent up on the previous
year. Incoming orders in the period under review amounted to 1.866
billion Euro (previous year: 1.996 billion Euro). The decline
compared to the same period the previous year is attributable to
the high volume of orders received at the Ipex trade show in April
2006. The order backlog at September 30 remained healthy at 1.184
billion Euro (previous year: 1.343 billion Euro).
"The positive development of the global economy is
continuing, albeit slightly less dynamically," stated Bernhard
Schreier, CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. "The economy is
currently being boosted by Europe and the emerging markets. In
particular in China the propensity to invest in the print media
industry is picking up again, now that the customs situation there
has been clarified," he continued.
The Heidelberg Group recorded an operating result of 96
million Euro in the first six months (previous year: 118 million
Euro). The downward movement compared to the previous year must be
seen in the context of a result last year that included one-time
effects amounting to approximately 25 million Euro, among other
things from the sale of the Linotype shareholding. The net profit
after six months was 44 million Euro (previous year: 68 million
Euro).
"With an operating return on sales of around six
percent, we are on our expected course to meet our targets for the
year as a whole," stated Heidelberg CFO Dirk Kaliebe.
"The detrimental effect of exchange rate movements and high
energy and raw material costs have made life difficult," he
went on to explain.
At September 30, 2007, the Heidelberg Group had a workforce
of 19,436 worldwide (previous year: 18,808). In the first six
months (April 1 to September 30, 2007), Heidelberg took on 265 new
employees, mainly in production.
Results in the Press and Postpress divisions
In the Press Division (offset printing), sales stood at a
level of 1.424 billion Euro in the first six months (previous year:
1.423 billion Euro). Incoming orders in the period under review
stood at 1.632 billion Euro (previous year: 1.762 billion Euro).
The operating result in the first half-year was 81 million Euro
(previous year: 96 million Euro, including one-time effects
amounting to approximately 25 million Euro).
In the Postpress Division (finishing), half-yearly sales were
seven percent up at 199 million Euro (previous year: 186 million
Euro). Incoming orders totaled 218 million Euro (previous year: 215
million Euro). In the period under review, an operating loss of
four million Euro was recorded (previous year: break-even).
Sales in the Latin America and Eastern Europe regions in the
first half-year exceeded the equivalent figures for the previous
year. Figures for North America, EMEA and Asia/Pacific were close
to the previous year's high level. The higher volume of orders
on the Chinese market was, among other things, a result of the
customs situation there being clarified.
Outlook for financial year 2007/2008 unchanged
During the next three-year period, from 2007/2008 to
2009/2010, the company expects total sales to increase by 10 to 15
percent. In the current financial year 2007/2008, Heidelberg
predicts moderate growth in sales in the run-up to drupa 2008. As
regards exchange rate movements, the company has based its
forecasts on exchange rates of 1.28 U.S. dollars to the euro and
148 Japanese yen to the euro and hedged the exposure adequately.
In financial year 2007/2008, Heidelberg is looking to
increase its pure operating result by 10 to 15 percent - compared
to the adjusted value for the previous year of 302 million Euro.
This marks out a target operating result for 2007/2008 of 330
million Euro to 345 million Euro.
The positive effects of the German tax reform and internal
optimization measures with regard to the tax rate will also play
their part in further increasing the net profit. Overall, the
company expects an increase in the net profit - excluding one-time
effects - of around four percent of sales in the previous year to
about five percent in financial year 2007/2008.
The complete report for the second quarter of 2007/2008 is
available online at
www.heidelberg.com . For further information
visit the Internet Press Lounge at
www.heidelberg.com .
Other dates:
The scheduled publication date for the financial statements
for the third quarter of 2007/2008 is February 5, 2008.
For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Thomas Fichtl
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 47 47
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 69
E-mail:
thomas.fichtl@heidelberg.com
Important note
This Press Information contains statements about future
development that are based on assumptions and estimates by the
management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even
if the management is of the opinion that these assumptions and
estimates are accurate, future actual developments and future
actual results may differ significantly from these assumptions and
estimates due to a variety of factors. These factors can include
changes to the overall economic climate, changes to exchange rates
and interest rates and changes in the print media industry.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft provides no
guarantee that future developments and the results actually
achieved in the future will agree with the assumptions and
estimates set out in this press release and assumes no liability
for such.