Bertrandt increases turnover and earnings

Wednesday, 06 December 2006

Double digit growth realised in the financial year 2005/06 Download MS-Word PDF File The Bertrandt Group registered a positive development in the financial year 2005/06. The turnover increased with 11 per cent to 241.1 million Euros. The company earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) could be increased from 1.8 million Euros to 14.3 million Euros. The consolidated company net profit increased to 7.8 million Euros after 72 thousand Euros in the financial year 2004/05. Altogether 516 new jobs were created in Europe in the reporting period. With its customer orientated service portfolio Bertrandt could further develop its market position in the international automotive and aviation industry. Bertrandt continues on successful course "Our customers’ demand for services along the entire process chain of the automotive development as well as the adjacent services is boosting", Executive Chairman, Dietmar Bichler explained at today‘s Annual Press Conference in Stuttgart. The development partner Bertrandt registers growth in the core business field body-in-white, interior and exterior development. The Powertrain, Electronics, Engineering Services as well as Testing and Validation Competence Centres could superproportionally post gains. Furthermore the structure costs optimization measures stemming from the previous years are effective. "We are foresightedly positioned with lean structures and attractive services in order to manage Bertrandt successfully in the mobility industry", confirmed Bichler the success of the implemented measures. Dividend payout suggested Due to the improved earnings the Executive Committee and Supervisory Board of the Annual General Meeting suggest the payment of a dividend on 14 February 2006. From the distributable profit of the Bertrandt AG of 3.854,2 million Euros a dividend is to be paid to each dividend-entitled share with 0.30 Euros. "With this recommendation orientated to the result we would like to tie in with our continuous dividend politics of the previous years and show that a commitment into our enterprise is worthwhile", Bichler justified the doubled amount compared with earlier years. Bertrandt creates over 500 new jobs in Europe The positive development of turnover and earnings is also evident in the personnel structure. As at 30 September 2006 the Bertrandt Group employed 3,577 employees, 516 more than in the previous year. "We plan to grow further in the current financial year", Bichler stressed. At present the enterprise is advertising approximately 200 open vacancies on its website. Bertrandt invested 3 million Euros for advanced training in the reporting period.