Record earnings create strong base in a weakening market
* Net sales for 2008 increased with 17 % to SEK 316.6 m (269.5)
* Operating profit improved with 56 % to SEK 85.0 m (54.5),
representing a 27 % (20) operating margin
* Cash flow from ongoing operations improved with 102 % to SEK 69.0
m (34.2)
* Profit after taxes increased with 97 % to SEK 58.8 m (29.8)
* Earnings per share improved with 93 % to SEK 5.43 (2.81)
* The board of directors propose a dividend of SEK 1.50 (1.00) per
share
* Net sales for the fourth quarter increased with 20% to SEK 79.2 m
(66.1)
The order intake declined by 0,5% in local currencies
- The positive financial development gives HMS a strong base
allowing necessary long term actions despite the weak market
situation. The economical downturn is decreasing our volume, but this
is partly offset by currency effects. During the fourth quarter we
received several key design-wins for customer specific solutions that
will contribute to our long term growth. For this reason we are now
recruiting development engineers and complementing our sales
organisation in order to create stronger growth after 2009, says
Nicolas Hassbjer, CEO of HMS.
Halmstad, February 6, 2009
Nicolas Hassbjer
CEO
Further information can be obtained from the CEO Nicolas Hassbjer or
the CFO Gunnar Högberg on
telephone +46-35-17 29 00. See also http://investors.hms.se
HMS Networks is a world-leading supplier of communication technology
for industrial automation. Sales totalled SEK 317 million in 2008.
Over 90% of these sales were to customers located outside Sweden. All
development and the major portion of manufacturing are performed at
the head office in Halmstad. Sales offices are located in Tokyo,
Beijing, Karlsruhe, Chicago, Milan and Mulhouse. HMS has 160
employees and produces network interface cards and products to
interconnect different networks under the trademark Anybus®. The
network interface cards are embedded in automation equipment such as
robots, control systems, motors and sensors. This allows
subcomponents in machines to communicate with one another and with
different networks in order to build more efficient and flexible
manufacturing systems.
In 2008 HMS was awarded to Sweden's best export company by H.M. the
King of Sweden. HMS is listed on NASDAQ-OMX Nordic Exchange in
Stockholm in the category Small Cap, Information Technology.
