EANS-Adhoc: gategroup Posts Strong First Half 2010 Results

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ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
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6-month report

12.08.2010

Convincing performance despite weak economic and airline industry
environment and effects of volcanic ash cloud

ZURICH, Aug. 12 -- Highlights for the first half 2010:

- gategroup reports increases in revenue and operating profitability
and strong cash flow despite challenges in the global economy and
airline industry environment and effects of volcanic ash cloud

- Revenue of CHF 1,317.2 million, up 2.0% reported; up 3.0% in
constant currencies

- EBITDA of CHF 93.8 million, up 4.3% reported; up 4.6% in constant
currencies

- EBITDA margin of 7.1%, up 0.1 percentage point reported and in
constant currencies

- Operating profit of CHF 40.5 million, up 16.4% reported; up 11.8%
in constant currencies

- Reported profit for the period CHF 10.3 million; down 69.0%
reported

- Cash flow from operating activities of CHF 21.0 versus CHF -2.4
million

- Net debt of CHF 418.1 million, down 27.8%

gategroup, the leading independent global provider of onboard
products and services, reported first half 2010 improvements in
revenue, operating profitability and cash flow against a backdrop of
continuing global economic uncertainty and an airline industry just
starting on the path to recovery.

Airlines, gategroup's main customer group, in the U.S., Asia and
Latin America have reported significantly improved results, but the
situation in Europe remained clouded in the first half. Continuing
challenges due to the debt crisis, industry labor unrest and the
volcanic eruption in April all combined to depress the performance of
Europe's airlines, and gategroup was not immune to these effects. Due
to the ash cloud alone, gategroup experienced an operational impact
on revenue of CHF 21.0 million and CHF 8.0 million in EBITDA.

"Despite the exceptional challenges, gategroup has once again
delivered to expectations," said Chief Executive Officer Guy Dubois.
"Our business model continues to demonstrate its resilience."

Strong underlying performance Operating profit for the period was CHF
40.5 million, an 11.8 percent gain over the same period last year
after adjusting for foreign currency fluctuations. Profit for the
period was CHF 10.3 million in 2010 versus CHF 33.2 million last
year, due largely to an unrealized foreign exchange gain not repeated
in 2010.

Reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA) also increased to CHF 93.8 million versus CHF
89.9 million, which resulted in a reported EBITDA margin of 7.1% for
2010, virtually the same as 2009.

"We are pleased with these results in the context of the overall
economic and industry climate," Dubois said. "They are a testimony to
our long-term strategy, dedicated employees and high quality
management."

gategroup continued to generate strong cash flow from operating
activities. The amount for 2010 was CHF 21.0 million compared to CHF
-2.4 million in 2009. "This is another reflection of strong
underlying performance," said Thomas Bucher, Chief Financial Officer.
Capital expenditures, meanwhile, decreased from CHF 41.7 million in
2009, when the company made significant investments in Japan and
Scandinavia, to CHF 26.3 million during the same period this year.

"We believe that our cash flow generation will remain strong going
forward and, as a result, we intend to be able to further reduce our
net debt level by the end of the year," Bucher said. Net debt at the
end of the 2010 first half was CHF 418.1 million, down from last
year's CHF 578.7 million.

Furthermore, equity attributable to shareholders of the Company
increased year over year by CHF 79.9 million to CHF 134.4 million.

Significant contract wins and retentions gategroup's comprehensive
offering of end-to-end solutions and the ability to cross-sell among
brands helped maintain a solid top line. For example, in North
America, Virgin Atlantic chose Gate Gourmet, Pourshins and Supplair
to service its flights at all 10 of its U.S. gateways. Gate Gourmet
focuses on catering and provisioning, Pourshins on supply chain
management and Supplair on innovative, centrally produced food and
packaging solutions.

Elsewhere, the company's focus on deepening relationships with
existing customers continued to bear fruit. Swiss International Air
Lines, for instance, extended and awarded new contracts to Gate
Gourmet in the U.S., Latin America and Asia. Other examples for Gate
Gourmet include American Airlines in Los Angeles and Singapore
Airlines in Zurich. Pourshins and Supplair continued to develop and
expand business with United Airlines, and Pourshins and Harmony,
which specializes in passenger comfort items, did so with Emirates.
eGate Solutions gained momentum with its newly developed GP4 galley
planning product with inaugural customers Singapore Airlines and LAN
Airlines. Also, JetBlue began using eGate Solutions' newly acquired
TS4 application to process transactions for onboard retail sales, an
area in which gategroup brands have taken the lead in offering
management and technology solutions.

Investments in the future The company also announced several
strategic investments aimed for long-term growth. In Tokyo, Gate
Gourmet is expanding its catering capabilities to include Haneda
Airport this fall when a new runway will permit international
flights. Pourshins also will open a bonded warehouse at Haneda.

In London, the transition of British Airways' short-haul business to
another provider, completed in May, has allowed the company to
rationalize its footprint at Heathrow Airport. A new purpose-built
flight assembly center at Heathrow North, which opened in July, gives
the company increased flexibility in its operating model. A
refurbished Heathrow West continues to cater British Airways'
long-haul flights and the company will end the lease on the Heathrow
South building before year-end.

In Latin America, Gate Gourmet in July completed construction begun
last year on a new more efficient, eco-friendly facility in
Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Key labor accords There were also important developments on the
employee relations front. Gate Gourmet's union-represented workers in
the U.S. ratified a new agreement through the end of 2012. Labor
accords also were reached in the U.K., Argentina and Brazil.

Outlook cautiously optimistic Airlines have started to gain positive
traction and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has
revised its 2010 outlook from a loss of nearly $3 billion to a profit
of $2.5 billion on the strength of a global traffic upturn. IATA,
however, expects airlines in Europe to lose an estimated $2.8 billion
for the full year, the only region anticipated to be in the red.

From a gategroup perspective, the North American market is
stabilizing. The Asia Pacific and Latin America regions are
developing positively. However, we believe that a turnaround in
Europe will only begin later this year.

"gategroup remains cautiously optimistic about the outlook for the
remainder of 2010," Dubois said. "Based on these solid first half
results and an anticipated recovery during the second half in Europe,
all other things being equal, we now expect an EBITDA margin of close
to 8% with continued strong operating cash flow.

Key figures of gategroup

Income Statement information
In CHF m except per share data

Period ended June 30, 2010 June 30, 2009
Revenue 1,317.2 1,291.8
EBITDA 93.8 89.9
EBITDA margin 7.1% 7.0%
Operating profit 40.5 34.8
Operating profit margin 3.1% 2.7%
Finance (costs)/ income, net (26.5) 4.3
Profit before tax 14.5 39.9
Profit for the period 10.3 33.2
Basic earnings per share in
CHF 0.52 1.66
Diluted earnings per share
in CHF 0.49 1.63

Balance Sheet information
in CHF m June 30, 2010 June 30, 2009
Current assets 658.3 691.7
Non-current assets 847.8 903.1
Total assets 1,506.1 1,594.8
Current liabilities 538.1 584.5
Non-current liabilities 807.8 928.0
Total liabilities 1,345.9 1,512.5
Equity attributable to
company shareholders 134.4 54.5
Non-controlling interests 25.8 27.8
Total equity 160.2 82.3
Total liabilities and equity 1,506.1 1,594.8
Cash and cash equivalents 213.2 203.0
Short-term debt 18.7 82.9
Long-term debt 612.6 698.8

Cash Flow information
in CHF m June 30, 2010 June 30, 2009
Profit before tax 14.5 39.9
Cash generated from
operations 43.1 21.9
Interest, net (14.4) (20.2)
Income taxes paid, net (7.7) (4.1)
Net cash flow from operating
activities 21.0 (2.4)
Acquisition of subsidiaries - (14.2)
Capital expenditure (26.3) (41.7)
Other (3.3) 0.8
Net cash flow investing
activities (29.6) (55.1)
Net cash flow financing
activities (32.7) 115.6
(Decrease)/increase in cash
and cash

equivalents (41.3)
58.1

For more detailed information, please see gategroup's Half Year
Report 2010, which is available in English in the Investor Relations
section of our web site, www.gategroup.com.

About gategroup: gategroup is the leading independent global provider
of onboard services to companies that serve people on the move.
gategroup comprises 11 brands, which are deSter, eGate Solutions,
Elan, Gate Aviation, Gate Gourmet, Gate Safe, Harmony, Performa,
potmstudios, Pourshins and Supplair.

The Group's world-class capabilities are focused in catering and
hospitality; provisioning and logistics; and onboard solutions.

Our customers include top airlines and railroads around the world
that rely on our expertise and solutions tailored to their guests,
service offerings and geographic regions.

Shares of Zurich-based gategroup are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange
under the symbol GATE. Please visit www.gategroup.com.

IMPORTANT NOTICE This publication may contain specific
forward-looking statements, e.g., statements including terms like
"believe", "assume", "expect" or similar expressions. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial
divergence between the actual results, financial situation,
development or performance of the company and those explicitly or
implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of
these uncertainties readers should not rely on forward-looking
statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update or revise
any of these forward-looking statements or to adapt them whether to
reflect new information, future events, developments or circumstances
or otherwise.

INVITATION TO MEDIA gategroup CEO Guy Dubois and CFO Thomas Bucher
invite media representatives to participate in a telephone conference
call regarding First Half 2010 Results.

The call will be held at 09:00 CET on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010.

To participate, please call the dial-in number approximately 15
minutes before the start time. Once dialed in, please follow the
instructions given over the phone.

Direct dial-in numbers:
+41 (0) 91 610 56 00 (Europe)
+44 (0) 207 107 06 11 (UK)
+1 866 291 4166 (USA - Toll-Free)
+49 (0) 69 2 22 22 05 93 (Germany)

INVITATION TO ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS gategroup CEO Guy Dubois and CFO
Thomas Bucher invite analysts and investors to participate in a
telephone conference call regarding First Half 2010 Results.

The presentation can be accessed via webcast and dial-in
teleconference at 13:30 CET on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010.

To listen to the live presentation via teleconference, call the
dial-in number approximately 15 minutes before the start time. Once
dialed in, please follow the instructions given over the phone.

Direct dial-in numbers:
+41 (0)91 610 56 00 (Europe)
+44 (0)207 107 06 11 (UK)
+1 866 291 41 66 (USA - Toll-Free)
+49 (0)69 2 22 22 05 93 (Germany)

Please note that media will not be able to ask questions during the
Q&A session for analysts and investors.

To link to the live webcast of the presentation, please go to the
"Investor Pack" tab under the "Investor Relations" section of the
gategroup website, www.gategroup.com.

SOURCE gategroup

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

Further inquiry note:

CONTACT: For media, John Bronson, Corporate Communications,

jbronson@gategourmet.com, +41 43 812 2048, or For investors/analysts, Laura

Clavari, Investor Relations, +41 43 812 5496, invest@gategroup.com

Branche: Consumer Goods
ISIN: CH0100185955
WKN: 010018595
Börsen: SIX Swiss Exchange / Hauptsegment