STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 07, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- At Alfa Laval's Capital Markets Day today in Copenhagen the company reiterated its financial goals. The goals are to grow on average five percent per year over a business cycle, to have a return on capital employed of more than 20 percent and an EBITA-margin between 12 and 15 percent. During the first half of 2004 the EBITA-margin was 11.5 percent. The measures we have taken now are estimated to step-by-step lift back the margin to the higher level, Alfa Laval's President and CEO Sigge Haraldsson says.
During the day Alfa Laval's CFO Thomas Thuresson said that the company intends to buy back the remaining parts of the company's bond loan on November 15, 2005, which is estimated to improve the company's interest net with SEK 75-80 million from 2006.
Thomas Thuresson also talked about the new accounting rules from January 1, 2005. The new rules will, among others, mean that the company's amortization for goodwill disappears. That means a decrease of the amortizations with approximately SEK 190 million, which is expected to increase net income with the same amount.
Svante Karlsson, responsible for the Equipment division, said that the division's focus on selling the products to channels has been a success and that approximately 78 percent of the sales in the Equipment division, now goes to channels.
Ulf Granstrand, responsible for the Process Technology division, described the division's aftermarket, an important part of the division's business that today is approximately 30 percent of the division's turnover.
Goran Mathiasson, responsible for the Operations division, explained how the logistics and manufacturing in Alfa Laval are organized to meet the customers' demands and how the company works with Six Sigma to further increase the quality.
For further information please contact: Peter Torstensson Alfa Laval Group Vice President Coprporate Communications Tel: +46 46 36 72 31 Mobil: +46 709 33 72 31 peter.torstensson@alfalaval.com
Mikael Sjoblom Alfa Laval Group Investor Relations Manager Tel: +46 46 36 74 82 Mobil: +46 709 78 74 82 mikael.sjoblom@alfalaval.com
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Alfa Laval Capital Market Day 2004
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