Bertrandt grows in a challenging environment

Technology trends offer business opportunities in Bertrandt’s core industries
The automotive sector is working intensively on the mobility of the future. “Climate protection and the digital transformation are key innovation drivers”, CEO Dietmar Bichler said. “The aerospace sector, too, is concentrating its development activities on improving the existing range of models and reducing emissions and noise pollution.” The energy, medical technology, electrical engineering as well as machinery and plant engineering sectors are being influenced by the increasing digitalisation of production processes. This dynamism of markets combined with the associated megatrends and technological requirements pose challenges, but also offer many opportunities for engineering specialists like Bertrandt. Against this backdrop, the Company’s performance in the first quarter of Bertrandt’s fiscal year 2016/2017 met management expectations and was in line with the forecast for the year. The fact that the first quarter was two working days shorter than the same quarter of the previous year had an effect on the revenue and earnings potential in the period under review. Another influencing factor was that pressure on prices in the industry has not let up since the past fiscal year. Revenues increased by 1.1 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2016/2017 compared to the same period last year and came to EUR 245.8 million (previous year EUR 243.2 million). Operating profit was at EUR 17.6 million (previous year EUR 24.1 million), equal to a margin of 7.2 percent (previous year 9.9 percent). Post-tax earnings were EUR 11.6 million (previous
year EUR 16.5 million). Responding to demand, the Company invested EUR 10.9 million in buildings and technical equipment (previous year EUR 27.5 million) with the aim of continually optimising its range of services. The equity ratio rose to 48.2 percent over the same period last year (45.9 percent). With a headcount of 13,061, Bertrandt employed 541 more people than in the previous year (12,520 employees). Owing to the diversity of products and services which Bertrandt offers, its size and its strong market position, the Company considers itself well positioned to seize business opportunities and develops its competencies with regard to current and future topics. The complete report on the first quarter 2016/2017 is available on our homepage.