Vevey, August 23, 2006 - Gétaz Romang Holding SA, Swiss specialist in building industry distribution, says first-half EBIT reached 16.3 mio CHF in 2005, up from first-half 2005 EBIT (5.9 mio CHF).
During H1 2006 the Group generated 392.8 mio CHF in net sales, which represents an 8.3% increase versus H1 2005. Gross margin improved even faster, by 12.4%, whilst operating expense has grown by a mere 1.6%. These efforts enabled the Group to generate an EBIT of 16.3 mio CHF, against 5.9 mio CHF in H1 2005. This growth is purely organic as the scope of consolidation has remained unchanged.
After posting strong results in 2004 and 2005, current earnings have grown in first-half to 13.6 mio CHF, up from 4.6 mio CHF in H1 2005.
Full year forecast : improvement in return on equity
As reported on the 11th of July this year, the Group predicts that the turnover should remain above last year's level, although growing at a slowing rate. Hence the Group's increase in net sales should reach 6% this year.
Having achieved an 11% return on equity for two years in a row, the Group maintains that it is aiming at a return on equity of about 13% for the full year.
The intermediary report, which contains financial statements, can be downloaded from http://www.getaz-romang.ch/f/about/investors.php.
This press release can be downloaded from http://www.getaz-romang.ch/f/press/index.php.
On the 23rd of August the Group management is available for questions :
Jean-Jacques Miauton, CEO, tel +41 79 607 70 70 Jean-Yves Bieri, CFO, tel. +41 79 210 58 42
Encl. : Key Figures and Interim Report as at June 30, 2006
