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28.10.2005 - euroadhoc / Börse / stock market / Financial Figures / Balance Sheet
euro adhoc: Westag & Getalit AG / Financial Figures/Balance Sheet / Sales above prior years level thanks to strong third quarter; Profits weighed down by higher costs of materials (E)=

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28.10.2005
Data released by the Federal Statistical Office shows that incoming orders in
the building construction sector declined by another 8.2% between January and
August 2005. Westag & Getalit AG defied this trend and completed the third
quarter with a gratifying 1.5% increase in nine-month sales which rose to EUR
127.4 million (previous year: EUR 125.5 million).
Export sales rose by 18.4 % to EUR 25.2 million. As already reported at the
half-year term, our export share now amounts to 19.8%, meaning that we have
effectively reached the 20% target repeatedly pointed to in our guidance. All
three divisions contributed sizeable double-digit growth rates to this result.
Earnings before income taxes for the nine-month period came in at EUR 3,476
thousand (previous year: EUR 4,951 thousand). This year-on-year decline was
chiefly caused by considerably higher raw materials prices. DVFA/SG earnings per
share were down to EUR 0.39 (2004: EUR 0.56).
The situation in our industry remains characterised by oversupply and the
absence of incentives for consumers to give up their spending restraint.
Demand in Germany is set to remain weak. As customers continue to attach ever
greater importance to low prices, we are forced to push ahead our ongoing
rationalisation measures. Exports of our products are growing in importance. The
success achieved so far vindicates our focus on this business segment.
Notwithstanding the pressure on our prices and the increased raw materials
prices, we believe that the positive sales trend as well as the most recently
improved profit trend support our expectation of appropriate earnings to be
reported also for the full financial year, even though it will not be possible
to match the very good profit level of the previous year.
Further inquiry note:
Felix Huisgen
Tel.: +49 (0)5242 17 5350
E-Mail: huisgen@westag-getalit.de
emitter:      Westag & Getalit AG
              Hellweg  15
              D-33378 Rheda-Wiedenbrück
phone:        +49 (0)5242 17 0
FAX:          +49 (0)5242 17 75000
mail:         ir@westag-getalit.de
WWW:          http://www.westag-getalit.de
ISIN:         DE0007775207, DE0007775231
indexes:      Prime Standard, Prime All Share
stockmarkets: free trade: Berliner Wertpapierbörse, Baden-Württembergische
              Wertpapierbörse, Börse Düsseldorf, Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB),
              official dealing: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse 
sector:       Building materials
language:     English