DGAP-News

GESCO takes stock after the first nine months and provides a positive outlook for new financial year

DGAP-News: Gesco AG / Key word(s): 9-month figures/9-month figures GESCO takes stock after the first nine months and provides a positive outlook for new financial year 14.02.2017 / 07:27 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. - Incoming orders stable, sales and earnings down on the previous year - Operating performance better than expected in fourth quarter - Changes to portfolio: one acquisition completed, one sale planned - Full-year operating outlook raised, but impacted by one-off effects from the sale decision - Positive outlook for the new financial year 2017/2018

Wuppertal, 14 February 2017 - Business performance at the GESCO Group in the first nine months (1 April to 31 December 2016) of the current financial year 2016/2017 was characterised by a relatively weak first half of the year impacted by customer order deferrals and a livelier third quarter, in which sales rose and margins improved considerably compared to previous quarters. The subsequent fourth quarter was just as dynamic with better-than-expected operating development.

The first nine months of the financial year at the GESCO Group encompass the months April to December 2016 for GESCO AG and January to September 2016 for its subsidiaries. With EUR 376.4 million, incoming orders were stable during this period and were roughly on par with the previous year's figure of EUR 378.1 million. Sales amounted to EUR 357.5 million (previous year's period: EUR 369.2 million). Against the backdrop of the relatively stable material expenditure ratio and the increased personnel expenditure ratio, EBITDA came to EUR 35.7 million (EUR 40.5 million). EBIT stood at EUR 19.9 million (EUR 25.3 million) after the slight increase in depreciation and amortisation. There was little change to the financial result, whereas the tax rate increased by a small margin. In total, Group net income after minority interest stood at EUR 9.7 million (EUR 13.0 million).