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.
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- 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
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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
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DGAP-News: AUGUSTA shows considerable growth in all business segments in 2007Augusta Technologie AG:
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