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ots Ad hoc-Service: BWT AG <AT0000737705> BWT 3rd Quarter 2000

Mondsee/Österreich (ots Ad hoc-Service) -

Ad hoc-announcement edited and sent by DGAP. The sender is solely
responsible for the contents of this announcement.
BWT - Best Water
Technology - Group of companies records turnover and earnings growth
in line with expectations for 2000
As Europe's market leader in the field of water treatment
technology, BWT - Best Water Technology Group - continues to be on
course for the attainment of this year's business goal at the end of
the first nine months.
Group turnover EUR 195.1 million (+11.3% compared with the
previous year) Consolidated group turnover increased to EUR 195.1
million and is 11.3% above that of the previous year's (EUR 175.3
million). During the third quarter, turnover was EUR 58.9 million,
achieving a growth rate of 10%. The individual business divisions
developed as follows:
Division                             
                                     1999      2000    +% 00/99
Domestic Technology                  55.4      63.7    +14.9%
Commercial/Industrial Technology     29.5      33.1    +12.2%
Project Engineering                  55.4      55.5    + 0.3%
Service, Fittings, Swimming Pool     35.0      42.8    +22,2%
TOTAL                               175.3     195.1    +11.3%
The domestic technology division (+14.9%), the commercial and
industrial technology division (+12.2%) and the service, fittings and
swimming pool division (+22.2%) achieved above average growth rates,
while the project engineering division only achieved marginal growth
of 0.3%.
Sales of the limescale protection device "AQA total" increased by
21.7% to EUR 15.8 million. Domestic technology sales without "AQA
total" rose by 9.8%; this development was largely due to BWT France.
The positive trend change in the commercial and industrial technology
division begun during the 2nd quarter of the year continued during
the 3rd quarter. This business area benefited from a rise of over 30%
in the domestic business of BWT France and the newly begun hospital
and pharmaceuticals business by BWT's UK subsidiary, Kennicott.
Turnover in the Project Engineering division only grew by 0.3%.
Behind this trend was a decrease in turnover at the German Loesch
Filter and in France which was equalised by the newly consolidated
van der Molen Group.
Turnover in the Service, Fittings, Swimming Pool division
continued to be dynamic. The Service and Spares business shrank, but
the swimming pool business grew by 57.2% and the product group
Fittings increased by 10.2% as a result of the new "WET-Technology"
which is part of the "BWT-fresh" Wellness fittings. Analysing
turnover by region, the companies located in Austria accounted for
about one third of the growth, the German and Eastern European
companies for 20% each. Of the total growth of 11.3%, about 6% stem
from acquisitions, the remainder from organic growth.
Order backlog stable at EUR 73.1 million (- 0.1% compared with the
previous year)
As of 30.9., the total order backlog of BWT Group amounted to EUR
73.1 million, almost equal to that of the previous year's. Orders
received during the 3rd quarter amounted to EUR 54.5 million,
representing a decrease of 4.7% compared with the previous year. The
van der Molen Group expects the start of two secured contracts during
the current business year, one for the delivery of food and beverage
production plants with a total volume of almost EUR 40 million, which
will be completed over the next two years.
Earnings rise overproportionately
Net profit of EUR 10.3 million (+ 18.4% compared with the previous
year)
In EUR million                                1999      2000       
+%
Operating profit                              13.5      16.7    
+23.6%
Financial result                              -1.9      -2.0
Earnings from ordinary activities             11.6      14.7    
+26.9%
Net profit                                     8.7      10.3    
+18.4%
Earnings development during the first nine months was in line with
expec- tations. The operating profit rose from EUR 13.5 million by
23.6% to EUR 16.7 million. The improvement was again due to the lower
materials usage which in turn was as a result of an increased
proportion of total sales in standard products. An increase in the
level of interest rates made itself felt in a slight worsening of the
financial result. Earnings from ordinary activities, at EUR 14.7
million, were better by 26.9% compared with the previous year, and
net profit increased by 18.4%, from EUR 8.7 million to EUR 10.3
million, as a result of an increased tax burden.
Number of personnel at 30. 9. 2000: 1843 employees The number of
employees amounted to 1843 at the end of September and thus hardly
changed compared with the end of the previous year (1839). The growth
compared with 30.9. of the previous year (1673) stems from the
increase in the production capacities and the newly consolidated van
der Molen Group.
Investments in fixed assets at EUR 3.4 million During the first
three quarters, BWT Group invested a total of EUR 3.4 million in
fixed assets; this compares with the previous year's figure of EUR
5.6 million. The current year's investments are largely aimed at
replacement and rationalisation measures. The German subsidiary
FuMA-Tech saw an expansion in its membrane production facilities.
Outlook for 2000: ÖVFA earnings goal unchanged at EUR 17 milllion
On the basis of the current year's turnover and earnings increases
and the current order situation, BWT Group expects ÖVFA earnings of
EUR 17 million for the year (+13% compared with the previous year's
earnings of EUR 15 million).
BWT focuses on three growth markets on the basis of its recently
introduced "Global-2000-Strategy":
a) AQUA ECOLIFE TECHNOLOGIES: High tech domestic products for
water treatment (such as AQA total, filters, softeners etc.) will
become almost compulsory in every household - just like PC's. BWT is
trying to catch the mass market in water technology using intelligent
products.
b) AQUA SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES: Plant for economically and
ecologically optimised customer-specific solutions for industry and
municipalities.
c) FUEL CELL MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES: The latest development by
BWT's subsidiary FuMA-Tech (Germany) represents the central function
of the future growth industry "fuel cell". Climate changes,
greenhouse effect and not least the higher oil prices call for
alternative energy sources. Fuel cells are viewed as THE energy
converters of the 3rd millennium. Soon this will result in a
"billion-EURO-market". Fuel cells are capable of propelling buses and
cars, laptops and mobile telephones and even of supplying electricity
and heat to households. The only "waste product" is pure H2O. Many
well-known multinational companies are working on the quick
commercialisation of this technology and BWT/FuMA-Tech opens up
unique new possibilities with the invention of its "PEM" (proton
exchange membrane). This concentration of strengths will continue to
lead to further dynamic internationalisation of the BWT Group of
companies.
End
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