jeudi, 26. octobre 2006 R. STAHL publishes key data on the first nine months of 2006 and raises its earnings guidance

Catégorie : Corporate-News

R. STAHL Technologies' 9M pre-tax earnings reached EUR 12.6m (PY: EUR 7.3m) – Management raises its earnings guidance for fiscal 2006 to EUR 16.0-16.5m (from EUR 12-14m)

R. STAHL Technologies' 9M pre-tax earnings reached EUR 12.6m (PY: EUR 7.3m) – Management raises its earnings guidance for fiscal 2006 to EUR 16.0-16.5m (from EUR 12-14m)

Waldenburg, 26 October 2006 – At the beginning of this year, R. STAHL Technologies focussed almost entirely on its explosion protection activities. The group has remained on a solid growth track in the first three quarters of 2006. The company is reaping the benefits from its optimised cost structures, lively sales of new, high-margin products, and a positive economic environment.

Sales and order intake on the rise
In the first 9 months of 2006, R. STAHL Group's sales increased 7.6% year-on-year to EUR 119.7m (PY: EUR 111.2m). Business was particularly strong in Germany with 18% revenue growth thanks to a solid domestic economy and indirect exports via sales to plant and machinery manufacturers.

At EUR 127.2m (PY: EUR 115.0m), order intake rose 10.6% year-on-year in the period under review. This improvement was not least due to R. STAHL winning two major equipment projects in Asia.

At the end of September 2006, the group's orders on hand totalled EUR 25.7m (PY: EUR 17.8m). This increase was primarily a result of expanding activities in systems business with longer completion periods.

Pre-tax earnings substantially ahead of last year
Pre-tax earnings from continuing activities rose from EUR 7.3m to EUR 12.6m. Earnings per share from continuing activities more than doubled from EUR 0.46 to EUR 1.18.

Outlook
Although the group will incur additional costs for future growth in the fourth quarter just as it did in the third quarter, R. STAHL's management has raised its earnings guidance for fiscal 2006 as a whole in light of positive business development. Rather than the previous estimate of EUR 12-14m, management now expects pre-tax operating earnings on the order of EUR 16-16.5m assuming that the economy stays put in the fourth quarter.

All figures mentioned are preliminary and may change as the audit progresses. R. STAHL will publish more detailed 9M/2006 accounts on 22 November 2006.

Contact:

R. STAHL
Judith Schäuble
Am Bahnhof 30
74638 Waldenburg
Germany

Tel.: +49 7942 / 943 1217
Fax: +49 7942 / 943 1364
E-mail: judith.schaeuble@stahl.de
Web: http://www.stahl.de

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