HELMA Eigenheimbau AG — Earnings Release 2008

Mar 27, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 27 March 2009 08:31

HELMA Eigenheimbau AG publishes preliminary 2008 results and 2009 outlook / Gerrit Janssen appointed CFO / HELMA Management Board buys HELMA shares

HELMA Eigenheimbau AG / Preliminary Results

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HELMA Eigenheimbau AG publishes preliminary 2008 results and 2009 outlook /
Gerrit Janssen appointed CFO / HELMA Management Board buys HELMA shares

Lehrte, March 27, 2009 - In an extremely difficult market environment,
HELMA Eigenheimbau AG achieved significant revenue growth and a marked
improvement in earnings in the 2008 financial year, according to
preliminary IFRS consolidated figures.

Revenue amounted to EUR 56.6 million in 2008 (2007: EUR 50.0 million). This
corresponds to an increase of 13%, which is particularly due to the
successfully completed expansion programme, as well as a reduction in
average lead times. EBITDA improved by EUR 4.79 million to reach EUR 0.73
million in 2008, thereby marking a return to profitability (2007: minus EUR
4.06 million). At minus EUR 0.40 million, however, EBIT was below the
targeted breakeven level (2007: minus EUR 7.69 million). Particular factors
that played a major role in the overall significant improvement in the
HELMA Group profitability included a reduction in the materials expense
ratio to 77.9% (2007: 82.4%), and the expense savings arising from
structural and cost-saving measures.

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 decline in planning permission
figures for detached and semi-detached houses in Germany, which fell 6.7%
to 88,307 approvals. Net order intake rose 15.4% in 2008 to a new record
level of EUR 69.0 million. With a net order backlog of EUR 53.8 million as
of December 31, 2008 (2007: EUR 47.9 million), the HELMA Group consequently
enjoys a very solid foundation for the profitable growth it is targeting
for the 2009 financial year.

OUTLOOK:

A long winter accompanied by, at times, strong snowfall led to a delayed
start to building activity in 2009. Due to the reduction in average lead
times achieved by the Group, however, it is assumed that this will result
in no significant shortfall in terms of absolute revenue level for the full
year, but instead only to a delay in the realisation of revenue during the
course of the 2009 financial year.

Based on the continuing success of sales, and the related comfortable order
backlog, the Group therefore expects revenue to grow to at least EUR 60.0
million in 2009, and EBIT to at least EUR 1.0 million, in line with the
realisation of further cost-reduction measures that have already been
implemented.

Consequently, the Management Board of HELMA Eigenheimbau AG firmly assumes
it will achieve positive Group net income in 2009. This budget also
reflects, in particular, greater economic uncertainties relating to the
current financial and economic crisis.

The 2008 annual report, including finalised figures, will be published on
April 30, 2009 on the Internet at www.helma.de.

EXPANSION OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD:

The Supervisory Board of HELMA Eigenheimbau AG has appointed Gerrit Janssen
(29) as an additional member of the Management Board for a period of five
years as of July 1, 2009. Mr Janssen, who is a graduate of business
studies, will be responsible as CFO for the areas of finance, accounting
and investor relations. As planned, this expands the Management Board of
HELMA Eigenheimbau AG to two persons, so that the Management Board will in
future consist of present sole Management Board member Karl-Heinz Maerzke,
who will take on the role of CEO, and CFO Gerrit Janssen.

Mr Janssen is currently a consultant at the UBJ. management consultancy,
where he has been responsible for a number of capital market transactions
in recent years, and has provided companies from all listing segments with
advice on their investor relations activities. Mr Janssen acted as
consultant to HELMA Eigenheimbau AG since January 2007.

HELMA MANAGEMENT BOARD BUYS HELMA SHARES:

HELMA Eigenheimbau AG announces that the direct and indirect shareholding
of the company's founder and Management Board member Karl-Heinz Maerzke and
his family has risen by 111,000 shares, or 4.27% of the issued share
capital, to a total of 73.75% since the publication of the 2008 half-year
report. The company's senior management also holds a stake of around 2.88%
in the company. The free float fell correspondingly by 4.27% to 23.37%.

The current shareholder structure is as follows:
Maerzke family: 1,374,000 shares (52.85%), Hindenburg Immobilien GmbH & Co.
KG (belonging to Mr Maerzke): 543,500 shares (20.90%), senior management:
75,000 shares (2.88%), free float: 607,500 shares (23.37%).

The share purchases, which were primarily effected off-bourse and on the
basis of a long-term investment horizon, allow the Management Board to
underscore its confidence in a business model oriented to sustained growth,
as well as the favourable future prospects enjoyed by the HELMA Group.

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

27.03.2009 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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