Empresas y finanzas

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: Preliminary Figures for Financial Year 2006/2007:



    Preliminary figures indicate that Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    (Heidelberg) (FWB: HDD) increased sales and earnings in financial year
    2006/2007 (April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007). "For the fourth year in
    succession, we have been able to draw on the upswing in the global
    economy and the resultant upward trend in our industry", stated
    Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.

    Preliminary sales by the Heidelberg Group during the period under
    review climbed six percent to EUR 3.803 billion (previous year: EUR
    3.586 billion). The fourth quarter alone returned sales of EUR 1.214
    billion, the highest level in the last five years on a like for like
    basis.

    Preliminary incoming orders in the financial year just closed were
    EUR 3.853 billion (previous year: EUR 3.605 billion), and thus around
    seven percent up on the previous year. The Heidelberg Group thus
    succeeded in increasing incoming orders for the third successive year.
    At around EUR 1 billion, the preliminary order backlog at March 31,
    2007 was on a par with the previous year's high level.

    In the period under review, the Heidelberg Group increased its
    preliminary operating profit to EUR 362 million, 30 percent up on the
    previous year (previous year: EUR 277 million). This produced an EBIT
    margin of 9.5 percent of sales (previous year: 7.7 percent). A number
    of factors contributed to this result, including positive
    non-recurring asset management items of around EUR 60 million,
    resulting primarily from the sale of Linotype GmbH and the R&D
    building in Heidelberg ("sale and lease back"). During the course of
    the year, this helped to compensate the higher spending on R&D,
    investments in new generations of printing presses, less favorable
    exchange rates and a decline in sales in China.

    The preliminary net profit climbed to EUR 263 million (previous
    year: EUR 135 million) and included a positive non-recurring item in
    the form of a corporation tax credit of EUR 73 million. This credit
    relates to a change in the way existing tax credits are treated and
    has no impact on the level of future dividends. The free cash flow
    also increased substantially to EUR 229 million as a result of tight
    asset management.

    "Last financial year we achieved strong improvements in earnings
    and free cash flow and in essence reached the targets we had set
    ourselves", stated Heidelberg CFO Dirk Kaliebe. "All in all, we have
    taken another sizeable step towards bolstering the company's
    sustainable profitability. "

    As of March 31, 2007, the Heidelberg Group had a workforce of
    19,171 worldwide (previous year: 18,436). This figure includes new
    appointments - primarily at Heidelberg production facilities - and,
    for the first time, 156 employees from the initial consolidation of
    BHS Druck- und Veredelungstechnik GmbH, Weiden, a subsidiary of the
    Gallus Group.

    Results in the Press and Postpress Divisions:

    In the Press Division (offset printing), preliminary sales in the
    financial year just closed rose by approx. six percent to EUR 3.321
    billion. Preliminary incoming orders in the period under review
    increased by seven percent on the previous year to EUR 3.367 billion.
    The preliminary operating profit for 2006/2007 was EUR 314
    million (previous year: EUR 248 million).

    In the Postpress Division (finishing) preliminary sales in the
    period under review rose by around 12 percent to EUR 445 million.
    Preliminary incoming orders increased by some nine percent to EUR 449
    million. The preliminary operating profit of this division for the
    period under review was EUR 7 million (previous year: Minus 3 million
    EUR).

    In the EMEA, North America, Latin America und Eastern Europe
    regions, preliminary sales and incoming orders showed a considerable
    improvement on the previous year. In the Asia/Pacific region figures
    fell short of the high levels of the previous year. The suspension of
    the import duty exemption in China, which took effect since the second
    quarter, postponed incoming orders and sales. The restoration of the
    import duty exemption on March 1, 2007 suggests that the order and
    supply situation for the Chinese market will start to show improvement
    in the current 2007/2008 financial year.

    Dividend proposal and outlook

    The dividend proposal - for approval by the Annual General Meeting
    on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - and the outlook for the 2007/2008
    financial year will be announced at the Heidelberg Annual Press
    Conference on Wednesday, June 13, 2007.

    Share buyback

    On November 7, 2006, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG began a second
    share buyback program which plans to repurchase up to five percent of
    the Company's share capital - a maximum of 4,152,535 shares - on the
    stock market by January 2008 at the latest. By the end of the
    2006/2007 financial year, on March 31, 2007, 2,419,422 shares had been
    bought back through this program. At the end of the financial year
    just closed, Heidelberg had cancelled 3,322,658 shares from the first
    and second buyback programs. The Company's share capital now amounts
    to EUR 204,103,795.20 and is divided into 79,728,045 bearer shares.

    The tables showing the figures as well as further information can
    be downloaded from the Press Lounge at www.heidelberg.com.

    Other dates:

    Heidelberg's complete annual accounts for 2006/2007 financial year
    will be presented at the Annual Press Conference on June 13, 2007.

    Important note:

    This Press Information contains statements about future
    development that are based on assumptions and estimates by the
    management of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even if
    the management is of the opinion that these assumptions and estimates
    are accurate, future actual developments and future actual results may
    differ significantly from these assumptions and estimates due to a
    variety of factors. These factors can include changes to the overall
    economic climate, changes to exchange rates and interest rates and
    changes in the graphic arts industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen
    Aktiengesellschaft provides no guarantee that future developments and
    the results actually achieved in the future will agree with the
    assumptions and estimates set out in this press release and assumes no
    liability for such.