DGAP-News: HOMAG Group gets off to a successful start in 2012


DGAP-News: Homag Group AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
HOMAG Group gets off to a successful start in 2012

15.05.2012 / 07:04

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HOMAG Group gets off to a successful start in 2012

- Earnings power improves further in first quarter of 2012 
- Sales revenue rises by about 7 percent 
- Forecasts for 2012 confirmed 

|[![CDATA[|[pre|]]]|]

EUR m                                         Q1 2012   Q1 2011    Change
Order intake                                    170.6     187.8     -9.2%
Sales revenue                                   187.7     175.6     +6.9%
Operative EBITDA                                 16.7      14.6    +14.4%
EBT                                               6.8       3.4    +98.5%
Net profit (after non-controlling interests)      3.2       1.5   +112.3%


|[![CDATA[|[/pre|]]]|]

Schopfloch, May 15, 2012. HOMAG Group AG, the world's leading manufacturer
of plant and machinery for the woodworking industry and for cabinet makers
reported that it had a successful first quarter of 2012. Sales revenue rose
by about 7 percent, reaching EUR 187.7 million (prior year: EUR 175.6
million). According to the management board, order intake decreased as
expected to EUR 170.6 million (prior year: EUR 187.8 million), as the
excellent prior-year figure had been marked by an extraordinary strong
project business. The Group substantially increased the order backlog to
EUR 208.9 million as of March 31, 2012 compared to year-end 2011 (December
31, 2011: EUR 158.6 million) and thus almost reached the good figure for
the prior-year comparative period (EUR 218.5 million).

CEO Dr. Markus Flik is satisfied with the start to the year: 'We have
further improved our operating performance in the first three months of
2012. We still see ourselves on track and our products are being well
received around the world.' In particular, it was possible to further
expand business in Asia, in the markets China, Japan, South Korea and parts
of South East Asia with order intake in each case significantly above the
prior-year level.

'The further increase in productivity is evidenced by the significant
improvement in earnings indicators,' CFO Hans-Dieter Schumacher explains.
For instance, operative EBITDA before employee participation expenses and
before extraordinary expenses increased by 14 percent to EUR 16.7 million
(prior year: EUR 14.6 million). EBT after employee participation expenses
and after extraordinary expenses almost doubled to EUR 6.8 million (prior
year: EUR 3.4 million). The net profit for the period after non-controlling
interests came to EUR 3.2 million (prior year: EUR 1.5 million), and leads
to earnings per share of EUR 0.21 (prior year: EUR 0.10).

Compared to year-end 2011, the Group's headcount decreased slightly from
5,141 to 5,104 employees as of March 31, 2012; compared to the level as of
the end of the first quarter of 2011 (5,071 employees), the headcount rose
significantly less than the sales revenue growth.

Outlook
Following HOMAG Group AG's successful start to the year, the management
board confirms the forecast made to date for the current fiscal year. This
means that the aim is to attain an order intake in 2012 that is roughly at
the same level as 2011. As regards sales revenue, the aim is to reach about
EUR 750 million in 2012 and thereby roughly match the level of 2011 -
adjusted for the special effect of the large-scale project with Mekran.
Based on this sales revenue forecast, the management board anticipates for
2012 an operative EBITDA (before employee participation expenses and before
extraordinary expenses) for the Group of around EUR 65 million. Owing to
significantly reduced extraordinary expenses, HOMAG Group expects a net
profit again in 2012.

- - - - - - - - - -

Background information
With its 17 specialized production companies, 21 group sales and service
companies and approximately 60 exclusive sales partners worldwide, HOMAG
Group AG's position as a complete system supplier is unique. Backed by a
workforce of some 5,100 employees worldwide, the company sees itself as the
leading global manufacturer of plant and machinery for the woodworking and
wood materials processing industry and cabinet makers active in the
production of furniture and construction elements as well as timber frame
houses. The group also offers its customers a wide range of services,
including software and consulting services. HOMAG Group AG's shares have
been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt stock exchange since
July 13, 2007.

Disclaimer 
This press release contains certain statements relating to the future.
Future-oriented statements are all those statements that do not pertain to
historical facts and events or expressions pertaining to the future such as
'believes', 'estimates', 'assumes', 'forecasts', 'intend', 'may', 'will',
'should' or similar expressions. Such future-oriented statements are
subject to risks and uncertainty since they relate to future events and are
based on current assumptions of the Company, which may not occur in the
future or may not occur in the anticipated form. The Company points out
that such future-oriented statements do not guarantee the future; actual
results including the financial position and the profitability of the HOMAG
Group as well as the development of economic and regulatory framework
conditions may deviate significantly (and prove unfavorable) from what is
expressly or implicitly assumed or described in these statements. Even if
the actual results of the HOMAG Group including the financial position and
profitability as well as the economic and regulatory framework conditions
should coincide with the future-oriented statements in this announcement,
it cannot be guaranteed that the same will hold true in the future.


For further information, please contact:

HOMAG Group AG
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Kai Knitter
Phone: +49 7443 13-2461
kai.knitter@homag-group.com 
www.homag-group.com 


End of Corporate News

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Language:    English                                                
Company:     Homag Group AG                                         
             Homagstr. 3-5                                          
             72296 Schopfloch                                       
             Germany                                                
Phone:       +49 (0)7443 / 13 - 0                                   
Fax:         +49 (0)7443 / 13 - 2300                                
E-mail:      info@homag-group.com                                   
Internet:    www.homag-group.com                                    
ISIN:        DE0005297204                                           
WKN:         529720                                                 
Listed:      Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);       
             Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,  
             München, Stuttgart                                     
 
 
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169756 15.05.2012