HELMA Eigenheimbau AG — Earnings Release 2008

Apr 30, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 30 April 2009 09:30

HELMA Eigenheimbau AG publishes 2008 annual report and presents its ecoSolar-House

HELMA Eigenheimbau AG / Final Results

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HELMA Eigenheimbau AG publishes 2008 annual report and presents its
ecoSolar-House

Lehrte, April 30, 2009 - HELMA Eigenheimbau AG today presented its final
IFRS results for the 2008 financial year. In a difficult market
environment, the HELMA Group accordingly grew revenue in 2008 by 13.1% to
EUR 56.6 million (2007: EUR 50.0 million). This significant revenue growth
is particularly due to the successfully completed expansion programme, as
well as to a reduction in average lead times ('lead time' refers to the
period from the signing of a purchase agreement to the handing over of a
house to the customer) to 10.8 months (2007: >12 months).

SIGNIFICANT PROFITABILITY IMPROVEMENT:

The HELMA Group's profitability presented a significantly improved picture
year-on-year in 2008. EBITDA improved by EUR 4.80 million to reach EUR 0.73
million, thereby marking a scheduled return to profitability. In addition
to the higher revenue level, particular factors that played a major role in
this respect included a reduction in the materials expense ratio (materials
expense expressed as a percentage of revenue) to 77.9% (2007: 82.4%), and
the expense savings arising from structural and cost-saving measures. At
the same time, the gross profit margin improved to the targeted level of
21-22%.

On the cost side, and given a simultaneous rise in total output, personnel
expense was cut by EUR 0.63 million to EUR 5.85 million in 2008, and other
operating expenses, which also contain sales commissions, were reduced by
EUR 0.21 million to EUR 5.62 million. Particularly in the case of other
operating expenses, corporate planning envisaged an even greater reduction
for 2008, however, so that although EBIT of minus EUR 0.4 million (2007:
minus EUR 7.69 million) represented a significant improvement, it was still
below the targeted break-even level on an EBIT basis.

Along with a further increase in revenue and a stabilisation of the gross
profit margin at the achieved level, boosting cost efficiency will remain
one of the HELMA Group's core objectives in the future. Consequently,
further cost-reduction measures were implemented in 2008, from which an
even greater reduction in other operating expenses is anticipated.

HELMA CONTINUES TO GAIN MARKET SHARE:

The HELMA Group also achieved significant growth in terms of orders in 2008
as a result of its innovative product portfolio and marked growth rates in
the new sales regions, despite a further 6.7% decline in planning
permission figures for detached and semi-detached houses in Germany. Net
order intake rose 15.4% to a record level of EUR 69.0 million in 2008, and
the average net sales price was up from TEUR 153 to TEUR 163. As a
consequence, the HELMA Group reports a comfortable order backlog of EUR
53.8 million as of December 31, 2008 (2007: EUR 47.9 million).

The HELMA Group has also started the 2009 financial year with strong sales
figures. Net order intake in the first quarter of 2009 was EUR 20.5
million, representing a year-on-year increase of around 40% (Q1 2008: EUR
14.7 million). The HELMA Group consequently commands a highly solid
foundation for its targeted profitable growth in 2009.

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO EXPANDED IN THE ENERGY-SAVING HOUSES AREA:

HELMA Eigenheimbau AG has expanded its product portfolio to include the
ecoSolar-House, thereby underpinning its strong position in the area of
energy-efficient construction methods. The ecoSolar-House combines the use
and storage of free solar energy with one or several other energy sources
such as gas or pellets, and thus, offers an optimal cost/benefit
relationship. With heating energy cost savings of around 30% the
ecoSolar-House is positioned between the KfW40-House and the Solar House in
terms of its environmental audit performance. As a result of the success of
its Solar House, HELMA Eigenheimbau AG is thereby offering interested
parties the opportunity to benefit from the advantages of the innovative
Solar House technology from a lower entry price, and simultaneously opens
up attractive additional sales potential.

POSITIVE OUTLOOK:

Based on the continuing success of sales, the Management Board of HELMA
Eigenheimbau AG expects revenue to grow to at least EUR 60.0 million in
2009, EBIT to at least EUR 1.0 million, as well as a positive consolidated
net result for the year, in line with the realisation of further
cost-reduction measures that have already been implemented. This budget
also reflects, in particular, greater economic uncertainties relating to
the current financial and economic crisis.

HELMA Eigenheimbau AG's complete annual report can be downloaded from the
company's website at www.helma.de under the menu item Investor Relations.

ABOUT HELMA EIGENHEIMBAU AG:

HELMA Eigenheimbau AG is a customer-oriented, full-service construction
service provider. The company's focus lies in the development, planning,
sale, and construction management of turnkey or partly finished detached
and semi-detached houses in solid construction or element solid
construction. The tailored planning and individualisation that the company
offers at no extra cost, as well as its in-depth expertise in the field of
energy-efficient construction, are perceived by the market as a
particularly unique selling point of HELMA Eigenheimbau AG. As a property
developer, the HELMA Wohnungsbau GmbH & Co. KG subsidiary complements the
service range of the HELMA Group.

Investor Relations contact:
Gerrit Janssen
Tel.: +49 (0)40 - 6378 - 5414
ir@helma.de

30.04.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Issuer: HELMA Eigenheimbau AG
Zum Meersefeld 4
31275 Lehrte
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)5132/8850-0
Fax: +49 (0)5132/8850-111
E-mail: info@helma.de
Internet: www.helma.de
ISIN: DE000A0EQ578
WKN: A0EQ57
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart; Entry
Standard in Frankfurt

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