- Margin improvement in all business groups
- Positive pricing impact in Graphics
- Continued strong growth in HealthCare IT
- Early start of cost savings plan resulted in net loss for the quarter
- Positive pricing impact in Graphics
- Continued strong growth in HealthCare IT
- Early start of cost savings plan resulted in net loss for the quarter
Mortsel (Belgium), November 16, 2006 - 8.00 a.m. CET
Agfa-Gevaert today announced its third quarter results. Group sales grew 1.0 percent compared to the third quarter of 2005, with flat sales in Graphics (on a comparable basis), a modest increase in HealthCare and double-digit growth in Specialty Products. Although raw materials costs continued to rise, all business groups were able to improve their EBIT-margins (before restructuring and non-recurring items) compared to last year.
Marc Olivié, Agfa's President and CEO, stated: "Our business groups continue to be very successful in assisting their respective clients in the conversion from analog to digital and IT solutions. Due to the ongoing shift to more profitable digital technologies, we were again able to improve the margins of our businesses compared to last year, and this despite the impact of high raw material costs."