Lindab's Fourth Quarter and Year End Report 2007
Fourth quarter 2007:
- Net sales increased by 15% to SEK 2,485 m (2,152)
- Operating profit (EBIT) increased by 31% to SEK to 370 (282) excluding one-off items for 2006[1]
- Operating margin (EBIT) increased to14,9% (13,1), excluding one-off items for 20061
- Diluted earnings per share amounted to 3.14 SEK (1.59)
- Cash-flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 575 m (267)
Full Year 2007:
- Net sales increased by 22% to SEK 9,280 m (7,609)
- Operating profit (EBIT) increased by 40% to SEK 1,309 m (933), excluding one-off items for 2006[2]
- The operating margin (EBIT) increased to 14.1% (12.3) excluding one-off items for 20062
- Diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK 11.45 (6.29)
- Cash-flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 875 m (778)
- Proposed dividend, 5.25 SEK, an increase of 62% compared with 2006
- Mandate request for share buy-back of up to a maximum value of SEK 400 m
"We are very pleased that the growth in net sales, margins and cash flow show such good improvements for the quarter," says Lindab's CEO and President Kjell Åkesson.
Lindab reports that net sales for the fourth quarter 2007 reached SEK 2,485 million (2,152) with a profit of SEK 370 million. Excluding one-off items for 2006, this corresponds to an increase of 31 percent when compared with the same period last year.
"The growth for the quarter (15%) remains strong, bearing in mind that December had fewer working days in 2007 compared with 2006," says Kjell Åkesson.
All regions have developed well. Net sales in the Nordic region grew by 13 percent and by 26 percent in Western Europe, just over half of which is due to acquisitions. The sales growth in the CEE/CIS region was 13 percent. Excluding Hungary, which has suffered fiscal restraints, the increase for this region was 22 percent.
"Regarding the future outlook, we share Euroconstruct's estimate that counts on a growth level of around 5 percent for our product and market mix during 2008, which is continued good growth," says Kjell Åkesson. For 2007 the market growth was just under 7 percent.
"Our focus on margins is generating results. The operating margin for the quarter of 14.9 percent is almost two percentage points better than last year," adds Kjell Åkesson. "This is partly due to strong volume growth with efficient cost control."
Ends
The information here is that which Lindab International AB has willingly chosen to make public or that which it is obliged to make public according to the laws for Stock Exchange and Clearing Operations Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act.
Contacts:
LINDAB
Kjell Åkesson, CEO
Email: kjell.akesson@lindab.com
Tel. +46 (0)431 850 00 / 850 07
Nils-Johan Andersson, CFO
Tel. +46 (0)431 85075
About Lindab:
Lindab is an international group that develops, manufactures and markets sheet metal products and system solutions for the construction sector.
The two business areas, Profile and Ventilation offer complete solutions for construction systems and indoor climate, as well as individual construction and ventilation components for all types of buildings.
Lindab is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Nordic Large Cap under the ticker "LIAB".
The Lindab group has approximately 5,000 employees in 30 countries and generated sales of SEK 9,280 million in 2007. Its head office is located in Grevie near Bastad in southwestern Sweden. For more information visit www.lindab.com