EANS-Adhoc: BWT Aktiengesellschaft / BWT in the first quarter: restrained decline in revenues and income

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3-month report

08.05.2009

• Sales: EUR 91.9 million (-7.1%)
• EBIT: EUR 6.6 million (-18.9%)
• Net earnings: EUR 4.3 million (-25.1%)
• Operating cash flow: EUR +1.2 million after EUR -8.5 million
• Gearing: 20.5% after 30.0% a year earlier
• Equity ratio: 48.6% after 44.9% a year earlier

"In view of the economic environment, the Best Water Technology Group
(BWT) recorded a better first quarter 2009 than expected. The
year-on-year revenues decrease was 7.1% while EBIT dropped by 18.9%.
Timely implemented cost cutting measures along with an improved gross
margin on revenues helped to restrain a decline in income," says
Andreas Weissenbacher, CEO of the BWT Group regarding the first
quarter 2009.

In the first three months of the year, consolidated revenues for the
BWT Group fell by 7.1% from EUR 99.0 million to EUR 91.9 million. In
the process there were very different regional trends. The pleasing
sales increase in "BWT water+more" coffee machine filters and water
dispensers advanced point-of-use revenues by 35.4%. As a result, this
unit already generates 5% of consolidated revenues (previous year:
3.4%). The Service business rose by 6.4% in total.

Thanks to an improved gross margin on revenues and to cost cutting
measures, a stronger decline of EBIT could be restrained.
Consequently, EBIT at EUR 6.6 million was down by EUR 1.5 million
(18.9%) year-on-year at the end of the first quarter. The Group tax
rate rose from 25.8% in the previous year to 28.3%, chiefly a
negative result of higher earnings in the France/Benelux segment. Net
earnings after minorities amounted to EUR 4.3 million, down by 25.1%
year-on-year (previous year: EUR 5.7 million). Earnings per share
were EUR 0.24 against EUR 0.32 in the previous year.

Cash flow from operating activities was significantly optimized in
the first quarter of 2009 - at EUR 1.2 million, it is a distinct
improvement on the previous year (EUR -8.5 million). Reduced working
capital requirements in comparison with the previous year more than
compensated the lower cash flow from operating activities. The BWT
Group net debt remained low. Net bank balances and interest-bearing
financial liabilities decreased by almost EUR 12.0 million to EUR
28.8 million compared to March 31 in the previous year and rose by
only EUR 2.9 million compared with year-end 2008 (EUR 25.9 million).
Thus, gearing amounted to 20.5% in comparison with 30.0% from the
same time of the previous year and 18.8% from December 31, 2008. The
BWT Group´s equity level remained high at 48.6% of total assets - it
amounted to 49% as at December 31 and 44.9% as at March 31, 2008.

Outlook

To date, intensified economic conditions have impacted the various
segments of the BWT Group in numerous different ways. While
significant decreases in revenues were recorded in Italy, Spain and
Eastern Europe, the Group has so far held its ground in core
countries such as Austria, Germany, France, Denmark and Switzerland.

Andreas Weissenbacher: "We are focusing intensely on keeping the
negative effects of the economic situation on revenues as low as
possible by means of increased cost and cash management, as in the
first quarter of 2009. The optimization of the Group structure, which
has already been initiated, should generate additional positive
effects. The very solid balance sheet with low net debt and a high
equity ratio represents a highly valuable security factor in this
environment."

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: BWT AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

BWT Aktiengesellschaft

Mag. Ralf Burchert

ralf.burchert@bwt-group.com

Tel.: 06232/5011-1113

Branche: Water Supply
ISIN: AT0000737705
WKN: 884042
Index: ATX Prime
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official market