029 Group SE

Earnings Release • Aug 24, 2004

News Details

Ad-hoc | 24 August 2004 18:26

Armstrong DLW AG in the First Half Year 2004

Ad-hoc-announcement processed and transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Interim Report according to 44b BörsG i.V. § 53ff BörsZulV Business Development of Armstrong DLW AG, Bietigheim-Bissingen in the First Half Year 2004 Sales development In the first half of the year 2004 the sales of the Armstrong DLW Group rose from EUR 185.8M to EUR 193.5M and the sales of Armstrong DLW AG from EUR 76.2M to EUR 81.5M. Slight losses in Germany could again be compensated and improved by increased sales within the EU to the USA and ASIA. The sales of the linoleum, PVC und textile product groups are about 5.7 % higher than in the preceding year. Results of operation In the first half year the Armstrong DLW Group had an annual loss of EUR 6.4M (loss in previous year: EUR 6.4M) and the result before tax amounted to EUR -5.9M (previous year: EUR -9.7M). The operation result at the end of the first half year 2004 was EUR -2.0M (previous year: EUR -5.4M). Armstrong DLW AG reports an annual loss of EUR 0.04 M in the first half year 2004, this is distinctly below the value of the previous year (previous year: EUR 1.2M) and reached a pre-tax profit amounting to EUR 0.1M (previous year: EUR 1.1M). The operation result at the end of the first half year 2004 showed a profit amounting to EUR 1.9M (previous year : EUR 1.7M). Orders received and orders on hand Orders received with the Armstrong DLW Group amounted to EUR 203.2M (previous year: EUR 185.8M). This corresponds to a rise of 9.4 % (previous year: decline of 31.3 % versus 2002). The orders on hand amounting to EUR 41.6M are by 3.7 % below the comparable value of EUR 43.2M in the preceding year. Armstrong DLW AG received orders in the amount of EUR 82.1M , which corresponds to a 19.9 % increase compared to the figure of EUR 68.5 M in the previous year. They have orders on hand in the amount of EUR 15.6M this means by 6.1 % more than in the preceding year, when the orders on hand amounted to EUR 14.7M. Investments and financing In the first six months of 2004 the Armstrong DLW Group realized investments of EUR 2.3M (preceding year: EUR 3.9M). Armstrong DLW AG invested EUR 0.8 M (previous year: EUR 1.6M). Employees On June 30, 2004 the Armstrong DLW Group had 2.414 employees (preceding year: 2.517). This change is mainly due to the closure of the plant in Oss, Netherlands and the integration of the sales force. On June 30, 2004 Armstrong DLW AG counted a total number of 1.133 employees (preceding year: 1.100). Outlook The strengthening and extension of our market position aiming at a market leadership in the commercial flooring business in Europe, and a perceptible improvement of our return on investment are supported by specific measures like reduction of capital accumulation in stocks and non-operation-necessary assets, country-specific plans to raise sales in the most important product groups, and cost reduction. We believe that this will help improve continuously the operating result of both Armstrong DLW AG and the Armstrong DLW Group. However, the result before tax will be charged by the introduction of the said measures. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 24.08.2004 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 551800; ISIN: DE0005518005; Index: Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (General Standard), Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 241826 Aug 04