Masterflex AG / Final Results/Final Results 29.04.2010 10:33 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE Masterflex AG announces 2009 figures - Profitable High-Tech Hose Systems core business and strict cost management cushion the blow of economic crisis - Group restructuring impacts consolidated earnings, but also forms the basis for positive future - Net debt lowered by a further 20% and clearly positive operating cash flow Continued business units (in accordance with IFRS in EUR thousand) 31 Dec. 2009 31 Dec. 2008 +/- Consolidated revenue 55,193 73,380 -24.8% Consolidated EBITDA 3,243 9,254 -65.0% Consolidated EBIT -330 5,972 -105.5% Consolidated EBT -3,911 3,062 -227.7% Group net income -9,563 -7,610 25.7% Earnings/share (EUR) -2.22 -1.76 26.1% Consolidated EBIT margin -0.6% 8.1% Consolidated return on sales -17.3% -10.4% Number of employees 537 675 -20.4% Total equity 995 14,840 -93.3% Total assets 69,298 101,274 -31.6% Equity ratio 1.4% 14.7% Gelsenkirchen, 29 April 2010. In the 2009 financial year, in the midst of the financial and economic crisis, Masterflex AG made very successful progress with its extensive restructuring programme. The huge diversification strategy of the past led to a high level of debt and had a significant impact on the balance sheet, meaning that refinancing became the utmost, existential priority. The achievements made to date were anything but a matter of course at the start of the 2009 financial year and will now provide a solid basis for positive development in the future: 1. The systematic disposal of non-core activities and strict cost management led to a further 20% reduction in net debt. 2. The Company pressed ahead with focusing its attentions on the profitable High-Tech Hose Systems core business by selling the medical subsidiary Angiokard GmbH & Co. KG and TechnoBochum GmbH. The disposal of companies considerably improved the debt situation of Masterflex AG, yet also led to high write-downs, even though the sales proceeds generated were above-average in view of the economic crisis. 3. In 2009, arrangements were made for the extension of loans up to 30 June 2010. Based on the considerable success made in restructuring the Group and reducing debt, the current talks about securing Group financing in the long term are promising and are taking place on the basis of much more trusting cooperation. 4. The internal reorganisation launched back in the 2008 financial year was efficiently implemented by means of a strict course of action, meaning that new structures have since been successfully developed. The cost-cutting programme launched in 2009 will come into effect fully in the 2010 financial year with expected additional cost savings of at least EUR2.6 million in the 2010 financial year. The Executive Board of Masterflex AG sees these measures as the basis for the positive economic and strategic development of the Company and, with a view to the future, is able to give a positive summary of 2009, despite the renewed impact on earnings. In its operating activities, the Company absorbed the negative impact of the economic crisis through far-sighted and timely cost reductions. Consolidated revenue fell by 24.8% to EUR55.2 million. Thanks to the broad base of the High-Tech Hose Systems core business unit, the fall in revenue here of 21.8% was somewhat more moderate. It was a mixed picture as regards equity investments. In the Advanced Material Design (surface technology) segment, it was still not possible to absorb the huge slump in business of the last two years in 2009 despite a rigorous restructuring programme. However, the Mobility business unit was not affected by the economic crisis. Consolidated earnings performance was impacted by the fall in revenue, write-downs and non-recurring charges resulting from the restructuring. In 2009, consolidated EBIT with non-recurring charges totalled EUR-7.6 million. Excluding these effects, operating EBIT on the basis of continuing operations stood at EUR-0.3 million. Including the Medical Technology unit, which was discontinued in 2009, positive EBIT of EUR0.7 million was achieved, meaning that this was within our forecast range. A promising start was made to the 2010 financial year. In the High-Tech Hose Systems business unit, the significant positive development observed since autumn 2009 in terms of revenue and incoming orders continued. Masterflex AG will consistently press ahead with the rapid expansion of its core business. This will be centred on further internationalisation and an innovation offensive. In the Surface Technology business unit, the restructuring programme is gradually making an impact and operating losses have now been significantly reined in. However, the Company is still faced with huge challenges. Masterflex AG believes it is on track in the Mobility business unit, not least due to the fact that the issue of environmentally friendly mobility is growing increasingly important. The Executive Board of Masterflex AG is convinced that the restructuring policy focused on long-term performance, together with all the necessary write-downs which it was possible to recognise on the balance sheet, was the imperative and logical first step in restoring Masterflex AG to a healthy, high-growth company. The starting situation has considerably improved compared with the situation in 2008/2009. Despite all the ongoing potential risks, the Executive Board of Masterflex AG is confident that it will overcome any remaining challenges until it achieves all of its objectives in full. Providing that the economic recovery continues, the Company is aiming for an increase in consolidated revenue of between 5% and 10% in 2010. As restructuring is not yet complete, consolidated EBIT in 2010 will once again be impacted by further non-recurring charges - primarily legal and consulting costs arising from further potential sales as well as capital measures. For reasons of precaution, losses from non-core business activities have once again not been taken into consideration in planning. Nevertheless, the Company is expecting a considerable improvement in operating EBIT and a significant positive consolidated EBIT (including non-recurring charges). The full 2009 annual report is available to download on the Company's homepage www.masterflex.de in the Investor Relations section. Further information: Masterflex AG, Investor Relations, Willy-Brandt-Allee 300, D-45891 Gelsenkirchen, stephanie.kniep@masterflex.de, Tel. +492099707744, Fax +492099707720 Masterflex AG is a specialist in the global development and production of high-quality connector and hose systems from innovative high-tech polymers in its core High-Tech Hose Systems business unit. Since it was founded in 1987, the Company has built up a high degree of materials and processing expertise. Masterflex commands the entire process chain: from the use of materials to the development of its own manufacturing processes using self-developed facilities right up to the production and distribution of products. The Company produces and sells high-tech hose systems for a wide range of industrial and medical applications at seven locations in Europe and the USA. Masterflex AG also operates in the Mobility and Surface Technology (Advanced Material Design) business units. 29.04.2010 10:33 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release distributed by DGAP. Medienarchiv at |[![CDATA[|[a href="http://www.dgap-medientreff.de"|]www.dgap-medientreff.de|[/a|]]]|] and |[![CDATA[|[a href="http://www.dgap.de"|]www.dgap.de|[/a|]]]|] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Masterflex AG Willy-Brandt-Allee 300 45891 Gelsenkirchen Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)2099 70 77-44 Fax: +49 (0)2099 70 77-20 E-mail: stephanie.kniep@masterflex.de Internet: www.masterflex.de ISIN: DE0005492938 WKN: 549 293 Indices: Prime all share Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Hamburg, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-News: Masterflex AG announces 2009 figures
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