Brunel 2005: Net Profit More Than Doubled

Amsterdam (ots/PRNewswire) -

Key figures from the 2005 financial year

Brunel International
X EUR 1 million 2005 2004 Change %
Turnover 391 313 +25%
Gross Margin 88 68 +30%
Overhead 65 57 +14%
Ebit 23.5 10.9 +117%
Net profit 15.9 7.4 +119%
GM % 22.6% 21.8%

- Turnover EUR 391m; up 25%

- Gross margin EUR 88m; up 30%

- EBIT EUR 23.5m (2004: EUR 10.9m)

- Net profit EUR 15.9m (2004: EUR 7.4m)

- Brunel Netherlands: turnover + 24%

- Brunel Germany: turnover + 25%

- Brunel Energy: turnover + 26%

In 2005 staffing company Brunel recorded a turnover of EUR 391m,
up 25% compared with 2004 (EUR 313m). The net profit was EUR 15.9m,
more than double the amount registered in 2004 (EUR 7.4m).

Brunel's gross margin increased by more than 30%, from EUR 68m in
2004 to EUR 88 m in 2005.

In percentage terms, the gross margin for 2005 rose to 22.6%
(2004: 21.7%). The operating result amounted to EUR 23.5m. This, too,
is more than double the amount recorded in reference year 2004 (EUR
10.9m).

Brunel International is an enterprise with a solid financial
position and a strong balance sheet. One side effect of the rapid
growth in turnover figures in recent years is the associated increase
in the balance of accounts receivable. In addition, average payment
terms are relatively long due to a number of long-term agreements
with multinational companies.

Due in part to the growth financing structure, the liquidity
position at year-end 2005 was EUR 29.0m (year-end 2004: EUR 36.6m).

Jan Arie van Barneveld, CEO of Brunel International: "In 2005
various historical financial records were broken. More importantly,
however, we have experienced a total transformation of this company
in just five years. Brunel in the year 2006 is an enterprise with a
worldwide presence, a clear corporate vision and approach, and a
transparent organisational structure in which the number of
management layers has been reduced to the bare minimum. As such, we
have an excellent platform for continued development".

Results by region

Brunel Netherlands

Brunel Netherlands achieved a turnover of EUR 92m, which
represents an increase of 24% compared with 2004. The gross margin
rose by 32% to EUR 31m. In percentage terms, the gross margin
improved from 32.2% in 2004 to 34.2% in 2005. Overheads rose by 6% to
EUR 24m.

Brunel Netherlands recorded EBIT in the amount of EUR 7.2m (2004:
EUR 1.0m).

The Dutch staffing market expanded in 2005. Improved market
conditions were in evidence across the board. Brunel managed to
capitalise on this trend with optimum effect, and all of its
activities contributed to the excellent operating result. Brunel
Engineering experienced considerable growth, Brunel ICT fully
recovered after ending 2004 with a loss, and Brunel Insurance &
Banking registered a nearly 100% increase in turnover and profit
figures.

Brunel Netherlands managed to secure an all-round increase in
market share in 2005.

In 2005, as in previous years, Brunel Netherlands invested heavily
in the quality of its sales organisation. Further service
improvements continue to feature prominently in the strategy outlined
for the years to come.

Brunel Germany

Brunel Germany registered a 25% rise in turnover, from EUR 59m in
2004 to EUR 74m in 2005. The gross margin increased by 19% to EUR
25m. The relative gross margin dropped slightly, from 35.8% in 2004
to 34.2% in 2005. Overheads rose by 11% to EUR 18m.

Brunel Germany recorded an EBIT figure of EUR 7.5m (2004: EUR
5.2m).

In the course of the year under review, the German market for
technical project management and engineer assignments continued to
expand. Brunel Germany successfully capitalised on this trend and was
able to consolidate its position in the German market.

In 2005, the company made heavy investments in the size and
quality of its sales organisation and in marketing Brunel as a brand.
The Board of Directors expects that the German market will continue
to grow, and will become more sensitive to competition in the years
to come. The investments focus on further increasing the competitive
strength of Brunel's presence in Germany.

Expressed as a percentage, the gross margin suffered some downward
pressure as a result of the increased competition and the conclusion
of long-term volume contracts.

In 2005 Brunel Germany took over Falkenburger: a strategic
acquisition intended to strengthen Brunel's position in specific
technical market segments.

In addition, Brunel Germany tested the waters in the Polish and
Danish markets. In the year to come, Brunel will decide whether the
experiences gained warrant a more structural presence in these
markets in future.

Brunel Energy

Brunel Energy recorded a 26% rise in turnover, from EUR 160m in
2004 to EUR 201m in 2005. The gross margin rose by 43% to EUR 25m. In
terms of percentage, the gross margin increased from 10.9% to 12.4%.
Overheads amounted to EUR 14m (2004: 12m).

Brunel Energy recorded EBIT in the amount of EUR 10.5m (2004: EUR
5.7m).

The favourable trend in the staffing market for oil and gas
engineers continued in 2005. This segment is characterised by a
substantial investment drive, fuelled primarily by the huge worldwide
demand for oil and gas products and by high oil prices. Thanks in
particular to its global office network, Brunel Energy has been able
to develop into a preferred supplier of virtually all major oil
companies.

The year to come, too, is expected to offer plenty of opportunity
for further growth. However, the Board of Directors stresses that the
projects, due to their nature, their erratic frequency and their
increasing scope, may lead to fluctuations in turnover and gross
margin trends.

In the course of the year under review, Brunel opened new branches
in Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines to reinforce its global
office network.

Outlook for Brunel International in 2006

The Board of Directors expects sustained growth for all of
Brunel's activities in 2006, in terms of turnover and profitability
alike. The developments in January and February of this year clearly
underpin this outlook.

A more detailed forecast will be published in the course of the
year.

Dividend

The Board of Directors intends to pay a cash dividend of EUR 0.30
per share for 2005 and will submit its proposal to that effect to the
general meeting of shareholders on 18 May 2006.

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Brunel International NV is an international service provider
specialised in the flexible deployment of knowledge and capacity in
the fields of engineering, ICT, legal, finance and insurance &
banking. The company offers its services in the form of Consultancy,
Project Management en Recruitment.

Brunel is active on the Dutch, German, Belgian, Canadian and the
worldwide oil and gas market. Operations are run from an
international network of 67 offices throughout 24 countries.

Distinguished by a superior service Brunel offers the business
world and governments added value by competently fulfilling it's
clients existing needs for specialist knowledge.

Since its establishment in 1975, Brunel has grown into an
international organisation with more than 5,000 employees and an
annual turnover of more than EUR391 million (2005). The company is
listed on Euronext Amsterdam N.V. (Euronext: BRNL).

Financial highlights

2005 2004
Profit
(x EUR 1,million)
Net turnover 390.8 312.7
Gross margin 88.4 67.8
Operating costs 64.9 56.9
Operating profit 23.5 10.9
Result before tax 24.1 11.3
Tax 8.1 3.8
Net result 15.9 7.4
Cashflow 18.7 11.4
Ratios
Change in turnover on 25.0% 27.3%
prvious year
Gross margin / net turnover 22.6% 21.8%
Operating profit / net 6.0% 3.5%
turnover
Group result / net turnover 4.1% 2.4%
Workforce
Employees total (average) 4,796 3,984
Employees indirect (average) 634 558
Employees total (year end) 5,359 4,598
Employees indirect (year 685 586
end)
Shares
in EUR
Earnings per share 0.70 0.33
Shareholders'equity per 4.27 3.51
share
Dividend per share 0.30 0.15
Highest price 18.00 9.00
Lowest price 8.65 4.86
Closing price at 31 december 18.00 9.00

Consolidated balance sheet as per 31 December

(x EUR 1,000) 2005 2004
Intangible Fixed Assets 1,919 1,664
Tangible Fixed Assets 4,437 3,852
Financial Fixed Assets 65 0
6,421 5,516
Receivables 114,943 76,825
Cash 28,952 36,609
143,895 113,434
ASSETS 150,316 118,950
Group Equity
Shareholder equity 96,683 79,434
Minority interest 64 -25
96,747 79,409
Current Liabilities 53,569 39,541
SH EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 150,316 118,950

Balance Sheet
Working capital 90.3 73.9
Group equity 96.7 79.4
Balance sheet total 150.3 118.9
Ratios
Group equity / total assets 64.4% 66.8%
Current assets / current 2.69 2.87
liabilities

Consolidated profit and loss account

2005 2004
(x EUR 1,000)
Net Revenue 390,780 312,744
Direct costs 302,424 244,979
Gross margin 88,356 67,765
Personnel expenses 37,624 32,456
Depreciation 2,090 2,268
Impairment 746 1,843
Other 24,396 20,303
Total operating costs 64,856 56,870
Operating profit 23,500 10,895
Interest income and expenses 550 394
Result before tax 24,051 11,289
Tax 8,072 3,818
Result participations -9 0
Group Income 15,970 7,471
Minority interest -85 -38
Net Income 15,885 7,433

Segment reporting

Net revenue Operating profit
2005 2004 2005 2004
Netherlands 91,930 74,152 7,184 1,026
Worldwide Energy 201,286 159,530 10,494 5,656
Germany 74,041 59,394 7,497 5,177
Belgium 14,632 13,118 51 36
Corporate 0 0 -1,828 -566
Other 8,891 6,550 102 -434
390,780 312,744 23,500 10,895

ots Originaltext: Brunel International NV
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For further information: Jan Arie van Barneveld, CEO Brunel
International, tel.: +31(0)20-312-50-76; Loek Hogenhout, Director
Strategy, Marketing & Communications, tel.: +31(0)20-312-50-75