Augusta Technologie AG / Final Results/Forecast 18.03.2008 Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Group revenues grow by 7.2 per cent to EUR 119.3 million - Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) climb by23.5 per cent to EUR17.5 million - Operative cash flow rises by 84.1 per cent to EUR 15.5 million - Earnings per shares amount to EUR 1,78 Munich, 18 March, 2008. AUGUSTA Technologie AG (ISIN DE000A0D6612), an integrated technology group specializing in sensor and automation technology, reports the successful completion of its fiscal year. On a group level revenues increased by 7.2 per cent to EUR 119.3 million. EBIT grew by 23.5 per cent to EUR 17.5 million. The EBIT margin increased to 14.7 per cent after 12.7 per cent in the previous year. Our core businesses developed dynamically and the group is growing above market average. We now have a strong basis for growth via acquisitions on the back of this significant earnings increase., Amnon Harman, Chairman of the Managing Board of AUGUSTA, comments. Margins increase in both business segments In the Sensors division, in which AUGUSTA bundles the development and marketing of single pressure sensors and complex sensor and measuring systems, the company increased its revenues by 4.4 per cent to EUR 77.7 million. EBIT rose 6.0 per cent to EUR 12.4 million. The EBIT margin subsequently increased to 15.9 per cent after 15.7 per cent in the previous year. The only downer in 2007 was the decline of the US Dollar, which significantly complicated the development of revenues., Harman explains.With the majority acquisition of the distributor Dewetron Inc. in November we created the preconditions in the product area Mobile Measuring for a more proactive approach in the important US market. In the Controls division AUGUSTA delivers solutions for automation and quality management. Revenues in Controls advanced by 12.7 per cent to EUR 41.6 million. EBIT rose by more than a half to EUR 8.0 million. The EBIT margin climbed to 19.7 per cent after 14.3 per cent in the previous year. Amnon Harman sees the reason for the dynamic development in AUGUSTAs market leadership with components for Industrial Image Processing. With digital Firwire cameras we are global market leader with our subsidiary Allied Vision Technologies. In 2008 we will prove this claim with a couple of product innovations. Based on the recently introduced camera family Stingray and a doubling of production capacities at the site in Stadtroda (Thuringia) AUGUSTA is aiming for significant growth in this segment in 2008 as well. Financial strength ensures future growth The sound operative development as well as the sale of companies, which no longer are part of AUGUSTAs core business, contributed to the fact the company managed to increase its net liquidity to EUR 11.8 million. In the previous year the group showed a net debt position of EUR 5.9 million. Berth Hausmann, CFO of AUGUSTA, explains: All important operating figures of the group have improved in 2007. Besides a considerable increase in earnings our balance sheets gained further strength und we continued to improve operationally. Thus we see the financing of planned acquisitions secured as well via loan capital.' At an equity ratio of 74.3 per cent AUGUSTA can revert to liquid assets to finance acquisitions as well as to treasury shares, which the company already is buying via its share buyback program running until the end of 2008. Dividend payment and continuous growth projected for 2008 At AUGUSTA signs are set for growth for the current business year 2008. With EUR 45.5 million the groups order backlog at the end of 2007 was already 16 per cent above previous years level. The objective is to grow stronger than the market in 2008 as well. Besides the organic development selective acquisitions are planned in 2008 as part of the defined buy-and-build strategy. The Managing Board expects group revenues without acquisitions to reach EUR 127 to 129 million in 2008. EBIT is expected at EUR 18 to 20 million. As already communicated shareholders shall have the opportunity again to take part in the successful business development through a dividend payment in 2009. From the retained earnings of fiscal year 2007 as well as from the earnings of fiscal year 2008 a cumulatively distribution of at least EUR 1,20 is intended. The payment will be conducted on the day of the Annual Meeting, which decides on fiscal year 2008. The detailed annual report is available for download on the companys website at www.augusta-ag.de. Please contact us personally if you need any further information: AUGUSTA Technologie AG Ingo Middelmenne Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Willy-Brandt-Platz 3 81829 Munich, Germany Tel.: +49 - (0)89 - 43 57 155 - 19 Fax: +49 - (0)89 - 43 57 155 - 59 Email: middelmenne@augusta-ag.de About the company AUGUSTA Technologie AG is an integrated technology group with focus on the niche markets of sensor systems and automation technology. The Sensors division develops, produces and markets sensor systems for customer-specific applications. The divisions product range comprises the sale of individual pressure sensors through to the development of complex sensor and measuring systems. The main areas of application are medical technology, industrial plant engineering, the automotive industry, as well as aerospace. The Controls division delivers solutions for automation and quality management of process cycles. Areas of application range from industrial image processing through to automation solutions for logistics and special vehicles. DGAP 18.03.2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: Augusta Technologie AG Willy-Brandt-Platz 3 81820 München Deutschland Phone: +49-(0)89-4357155-19 Fax: +49-(0)89-4357155-56 E-mail: investor-relations@augusta-ag.de Internet: www.augusta-ag.de ISIN: DE000A0D6612, DE0003705992 WKN: A0D661, 370599 Indices: CDAX, PRIMEALL Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-News: AUGUSTA shows considerable growth in all business segments in 2007Augusta Technologie AG:
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