At their just concluded General Meeting in Munich, Germany, BHS tabletop Group – manufacturers and marketers of the Bauscher, Tafelstern, and Schonwald porcelain brands - looked back at a positive business year in 2011 and once again presented its shareholders with a very good result – despite the difficult economic conditions caused by the euro debt crisis. Due to the positive earnings situation, a dividend of 0.56 euros per share has been decided on, 10 percent more than in the previous year. With a year-end price of 11.35 euros per share, that corresponds to a dividend yield of 4.9 percent. A world market leader for professional porcelain for the hotel and restaurant industry and catering, headquartered in Selb, Germany, BHS tabletop Group was able to show a slight sales increase in 2011, after strong growth the previous year.
Company sales of its brands Bauscher, Tafelstern professional porcelain, and Schönwald were 87.3 million euros (previous year: 86.5 million, gain of 0.9 percent) and the company’s annual net profit was 4.0 million euros (previous year: 5.6). This moderate growth was achieved despite the flare up of the euro debt crisis in the second half of 2011, which noticeably impacted the business in some of the European markets which are very important for the company. The export ratio increased from 46.0 percent (2010) to 47.8 percent.
‘In a market which continues to be very difficult and an economic environment which brought a significant headwind no later than the middle of the year, BHS tabletop AG was once again able to achieve a very good result in 2011 based on a clear business model,’ said Christian Strootmann, Chief Executive Officer of BHS tabletop AG, at the general meeting in Munich. A clear profit again The Group’s consolidated pre-tax profit (EBT) in 2011 was 4.1 million euros (previous year: 4.5 million euros). The Group’s consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) were 10.2 million euros (previous year: 10.7 million), and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) were 5.8 million euros (previous year: 6.4 million euros). Equity ratio at a sound level In the 2011 business year, BHS tabletop Group was able to significantly increase its equity from 35.8 million euros to 38.0 million euros. The equity ratio improved from 41.0 percent (2010) to 43.9 percent. Thanks to its positive results in the 2010 and 2011 business years, the company’s capitalisation returned to the very sound level of the period before the recession year of 2009.
Worldwide leader in energy efficiency In 2011, BHS tabletop Group continued to promote the expansion of its technology leadership and invested around 4 million euros. The focus of activities in 2011 included the implementation and auditing of the new energy management standard ISO 50001. With its successful certification, BHS tabletop AG has taken a global pioneering role in the porcelain industry. Further investments of around 5 million euros are planned for the 2012 business year. They will be particularly directed to the modernisation of production. Despite numerous successes in energy efficiency measures, energy costs at BHS tabletop AG have risen by several million euros in recent years.
In his speech, Christian Strootmann demanded that politicians create stable conditions for companies in Germany and do not carry out energy policy changes on the backs of individual market participants. He warned that otherwise this would jeopardise ‘the willingness and ability to invest and, ultimately, jobs.’ Number of training positions increased significantly In 2011, on average 1,065 people were employed by BHS tabletop Group (previous year: 1,058). As part of a comprehensive human resources development strategy, the number of training positions was increased from 28 to 36.
Outlook 2012:
Renewed positive result despite difficult economic conditions, BHS tabletop Group remains confident for the current 2012 business year. However, due to the euro debt crisis, the Executive Board assumes a maximum turnover at the level of the previous year. A positive result is expected, but due to further increases in energy and personnel costs, it may be less than the high level of the previous year.
You can learn more about the BHS tabletop Group and their brands by going here: http://www.bhs-tabletop.de/
Company sales of its brands Bauscher, Tafelstern professional porcelain, and Schönwald were 87.3 million euros (previous year: 86.5 million, gain of 0.9 percent) and the company’s annual net profit was 4.0 million euros (previous year: 5.6). This moderate growth was achieved despite the flare up of the euro debt crisis in the second half of 2011, which noticeably impacted the business in some of the European markets which are very important for the company. The export ratio increased from 46.0 percent (2010) to 47.8 percent.
‘In a market which continues to be very difficult and an economic environment which brought a significant headwind no later than the middle of the year, BHS tabletop AG was once again able to achieve a very good result in 2011 based on a clear business model,’ said Christian Strootmann, Chief Executive Officer of BHS tabletop AG, at the general meeting in Munich. A clear profit again The Group’s consolidated pre-tax profit (EBT) in 2011 was 4.1 million euros (previous year: 4.5 million euros). The Group’s consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) were 10.2 million euros (previous year: 10.7 million), and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) were 5.8 million euros (previous year: 6.4 million euros). Equity ratio at a sound level In the 2011 business year, BHS tabletop Group was able to significantly increase its equity from 35.8 million euros to 38.0 million euros. The equity ratio improved from 41.0 percent (2010) to 43.9 percent. Thanks to its positive results in the 2010 and 2011 business years, the company’s capitalisation returned to the very sound level of the period before the recession year of 2009.
Worldwide leader in energy efficiency In 2011, BHS tabletop Group continued to promote the expansion of its technology leadership and invested around 4 million euros. The focus of activities in 2011 included the implementation and auditing of the new energy management standard ISO 50001. With its successful certification, BHS tabletop AG has taken a global pioneering role in the porcelain industry. Further investments of around 5 million euros are planned for the 2012 business year. They will be particularly directed to the modernisation of production. Despite numerous successes in energy efficiency measures, energy costs at BHS tabletop AG have risen by several million euros in recent years.
In his speech, Christian Strootmann demanded that politicians create stable conditions for companies in Germany and do not carry out energy policy changes on the backs of individual market participants. He warned that otherwise this would jeopardise ‘the willingness and ability to invest and, ultimately, jobs.’ Number of training positions increased significantly In 2011, on average 1,065 people were employed by BHS tabletop Group (previous year: 1,058). As part of a comprehensive human resources development strategy, the number of training positions was increased from 28 to 36.
Outlook 2012:
Renewed positive result despite difficult economic conditions, BHS tabletop Group remains confident for the current 2012 business year. However, due to the euro debt crisis, the Executive Board assumes a maximum turnover at the level of the previous year. A positive result is expected, but due to further increases in energy and personnel costs, it may be less than the high level of the previous year.
You can learn more about the BHS tabletop Group and their brands by going here: http://www.bhs-tabletop.de/
