ots Ad hoc-Service: Linde AG <DE0006483001> Double-digit Growth in Group Results Extra Distribution for Shareholders
Wiesbaden (ots Ad hoc-Service) -
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The Linde Group, Wiesbaden, recorded a surge in results in 2000. Earnings before taxes (EBT) increased by 15 percent to 481 million Euro. Shareholders will receive
a dividend of 1.35 Euro per share (1999: 1.13 Euro per share). Of this amount, 0.22 Euro per share reflect on the extra distribution of equity capital which was charged with a corporation tax rate of 45 percent. The Executive Board of Linde AG will propose this in accordance with the Supervisory Board at the Annual General Meeting on May 29, 2001. Domestic shareholders will thus receive a gross dividend of 1.93 Euro payable on each share held, this including the tax credit.
In 2000, the Swedish gases company AGA AB was consolidated for the first time and the structure of the Linde Group has consequently considerably changed. As was announced earlier this year, group sales went up 36.4 percent totaling 8.450 billion Euro. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of goodwill) increased by 78.6 percent to 1.345 billion Euro. At the same time, depreciation and goodwill amortization of 107 million Euro increased to a total of 677 million Euro (1999: 315 million Euro). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) thus went up 230 million Euro to 668 million Euro, this being a plus of 52.5 percent. As negative net interest has increased from 21 million Euro to 187 million Euro, EBT amounts to 481 million Euro.
Annual net income rose by 5.0 percent to 274 million Euro. This relatively low increase is attributable to a higher tax ratio which rose from 37.5 percent to 43 percent as charges from the amortization of goodwill are not tax deductible. Without these charges, which are mainly attributable to the AGA acquisition in 2000, the tax ratio would stand at 35.2 percent.
As compared to the end of the previous year, earnings per share improved from 2.04 Euro to 2.29 Euro. Excluding the amortization of goodwill, earnings per share amount to 3.18 Euro.
WKN: 648300; Index: DAX-30 Listed: Amtlicher Handel in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart, EUREX; Geregelter Markt in Bremen; Freiverkehr in Hannover; Zürich
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Original content of: Linde Aktiengesellschaft, transmitted by news aktuell