INDUS Holding AG

Earnings Release • Aug 29, 2008

News Details

Corporate | 29 August 2008 07:59

INDUS steps up pace of earnings growth

INDUS Holding AG / Half Year Results

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Earnings rise by 34 % in 1st half of 2008

Bergisch Gladbach, August 29, 2008 – A more dynamic earnings performance in
the second quarter enabled INDUS Holding AG, which is listed in the SDAX,
to post a strong operating performance for the first half of 2008 as a
whole. 'We have further maintained our growth course in a difficult
economic climate', commented Helmut Ruwisch, Chairman of the company’s
Board of Management, with some satisfaction. 'As the third quarter has so
far developed on target, we are now already in a position to clearly affirm
our forecast for the year as a whole.'

Dynamic growth in the second quarter of 2008
'The operating performance gained notably in momentum in the second
quarter', stressed Ruwisch. Consolidated sales rose by 7.0 % over this
period to reach Euro 249.1 million (Q2 2007: Euro 232.8m), while operating
earnings (EBIT) improved by 8.6 % to Euro 31.5 million (Q2 2007: Euro
29.0m). Net income for the period showed significantly stronger growth,
rising by 43.5 % from Euro 13.1 million to Euro 18.8 million.

Strong first half of 2008
Consolidated sales rose by 3.0 % to Euro 467.1 million in the first half of
2008 (H1 2007: Euro 453.4m). This growth was exclusively due to the
positive performance of existing investments. The optimization and
rationalization measures implemented at individual companies largely made
up for the effects high raw material and energy costs. Earnings before
interest and taxes (EBIT) showed disproportionate growth of 6.3 % to Euro
52.7 million. Improved net financial expenses and a significant reduction
in the tax rate led net income for the period after minority interests to
leap by 33.8 % to Euro 26.9 million (H1 Euro 20.1m). This is equivalent to
earnings per share of Euro 1.47, compared with Euro 1.12 in the previous
year.

Forecast confirmed for the year as a whole
In view of the strong first half of the year and the pleasing start to the
third quarter, the Board of Management has upheld its forecast –
notwithstanding increasingly negative economic omens. Accordingly, sales
are expected to rise to more than Euro 970 million with an EBIT margin of
10 % to 12 %. The comfortable supply of liquidity is to be increasingly
channeled into anti-cyclical activities in the investment market. INDUS is
currently holding promising negotiations with acquisition candidates in
order to expand its existing portfolio in a targeted manner. 'We are
confident that we will be able to present initial results before the end of
the current year', commented Ruwisch with regard to the latest status of
these talks.
29.08.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Issuer: INDUS Holding AG
Kölner Straße 32
51429 Bergisch Gladbach
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)2204 40 00-0
Fax: +49 (0)2204 40 00-20
E-mail: indus@indus.de
Internet: www.indus.de
ISIN: DE0006200108
WKN: 620010
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Düsseldorf;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart

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