Company announcement
No.: 18/2008
Copenhagen, 1 July 2008
Passenger Shipping's profit improvement plan under implementation
Earlier today Ekstra Bladet published an article, where accounting figures for
the first four months of the year for some of DFDS Seaways' passenger routes
were stated. The figures are in accordance with the quarterly report for Q1
2008, where it is informed, that the operating profit (EBIT) for the business
area Passenger Shipping, which includes DFDS Seaways, was DKK -135 million.
Like previous years the profit development for DFDS' passenger routes are
influenced by seasonal changes with the low season being the first quarter of
the year and this effect was included in the profit expectation of the Q1
report.
Moreover, a company announcement was released on 27 May 2008 concerning a
project, which aims to improve the profitability of Passenger Shipping,
including the closure of a route later this year. It is assumed that the
confidential accounting figures regrettably have been released in connection
with this project.
The work on improving the profitability of Passenger Shipping is underway.
Yours sincerely
DFDS A/S
Further information: CEO Niels Smedegaard, tel + 45 3342 3400
or
CFO Chr. Merrild, tel + 45 3342 3201
The DFDS Group operates a leading, sea-based transport network in Northern
Europe that is based on a fleet of 64 ships, comprising cruise ferry ships,
Ro-Ros, combined freight/passenger ships and container ships as well as
terminals and a trailer network linked to the routes. The company has 4,400
employees in 14 countries. DFDS is head-quartered in Copenhagen and is listed on
OMX The Nordic Exchange Copenhagen.