Kirkel – December 22, 2009. The Supervisory Board of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG resolved on a new allocation of responsibilities among the members of the Management Board. The new schedule of responsibilities effective from January 1, 2010 will result in a clear and future-oriented separation of strategic and operating duties.

more

• Sales and earnings in Germany up from last year
• International business still affected by cyclical and currency effects
• Group EBITA net of currency effects at the level of 2007

Kirkel – 22 October 2009. In a continued difficult international economic environment Praktiker Group firmly held its ground in the third quarter 2009 and, most of all, distinctly increased the profitability of the Praktiker brand in Germany. Operating earnings (EBITA) at group level came in at 34.3 million euro while sales declined by a total of 4.8 percent to 968.0 million euro. This is 15.8 million euro less than the quarterly result achieved in the record year 2008. Net of currency effects, i.e. if foreign exchange rates in the international markets had remained constant, EBITA would have reached around 40 million euro and thus the same level as in 2007. While the ongoing recession in the East and Southeast European markets continues to weigh heavily on the Group’s international business, domestic operations have for the first time in the crisis year 2009 improved their earnings contribution by a positive 8.8 percent. The Praktiker brand even raised its earnings by 11.7 percent over the same quarter one year earlier.

The Interim Report 3/2009 is available here.

The statement of CEO Wolfgang Werner regarding the interim report 3/2009 is available here.

more

Kirkel / Tirana – 23 September 2009. Praktiker Group, one of the leading DIY chain operators in Europe, is about to make its market entry into Albania. On 30 October 2009, the first DIY and home improvement center with an area of around 8,700 square meters will open its gates in the capital of Tirana. This move will make Praktiker a pioneer in this market: So far there has been no comparable retail format – whether operated by a national or international corporation – in the whole country.

more

• Q2 EBITA reached 68.1 million euro, adjusted for currency effects at 72.6 million euro
• Group sales declined by 2.8 %, adjusted for currency effects plus 0.5 %
• Domestic sales increased by 2.9 % , Praktiker brand plus 4.6 %
• Liquidity reaches 271.5 million euro in first half of the year

Kirkel – July 22, 2009. In a difficult economic environment, Praktiker Group stood its ground in the second quarter 2009 – supported by a distinct pick-up of business in Germany. At 68.1 million euro, second quarter EBITA came in some 12 million euro below the record earnings of the year earlier (80,0 million euro). Adjusted for currency effects, i.e. at unchanged exchange rates, EBITA would have reached 72.6 million euro. Wolfgang Werner, CEO of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG, called this “a good basis for a further, adequate and positive development of the earnings situation in the second half of the year“. Following a difficult first quarter the company “was back on a reasonable track”. Werner: “Praktiker is well on its way and on the right track”.

The Interim Report H1/2009 is available here.

The statement of CEO Wolfgang Werner regarding the interim report H1/2009 is available here.

more

Kirkel/Munich. July 10, 2009. The future “flagship” of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte AG in Munich is taking shape. The topping-out ceremony was celebrated at the site of the new store on Wasserburger Landstraße in Munich Trudering in the presence of lord mayor Christian Ude on July 10. Work has been progressing according to plan since the revocation of a temporary stop of work in February and no further delays are expected so that the new shopping paradise for craftspeople and do-it-yourselfers is scheduled to open its gates some time in November 2009 – 18 months after breaking the ground.

more

Saarbrücken, 27 May 2009 – The shareholders of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG will receive a dividend of 10 euro cents per share for financial year 2008. The corresponding proposal of the Management Board and Supervisory Board was approved today with a large majority by the Fourth Ordinary Annual General Meeting of the company that went public on 22 November 2005. Based on the stock price at the close of 2008 this corresponds to a dividend yield of 1.3 percent.

more

Saarbrücken – May 27, 2009. Following an ungratifying first quarter 2009 the domestic business of the Praktiker Group distinctly stabilised during the last two months – also against the backdrop of a continued difficult economic environment. “In April - although there were two trading days less - Praktiker succeeded in selling so much more than one year earlier that it already managed to largely compensate for the first quarter drop in sales“, stressed Wolfgang Werner, CEO of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG at this year’s Annual General Meeting in Saarbrücken. Also the month of May has so far shown its bright side so that Praktiker was able to reduce the scope of short-time work introduced for the first time in March at 81 German outlets to now only five stores. However, there is no reason to give the all-clear yet. Werner therefore called for “strict discipline“. Securing earnings and liquidity continued to top the list of priorities “with a big exclamation mark“.

The statement of CEO Wolfgang Werner regarding the General Annual Meeting 2009 is available here.

more

• Group sales at 795.6 million euros (-8.0 percent)
• Seasonal operating loss (EBITA) rises to 49.2 million euros
• International business suffers from devaluation of national currencies
• Distinct pick-up in Germany in April
• Positive earnings forecast for 2009 reiterated

Kirkel – 22 April 2009. Unfavorable economic and climatic conditions in Germany and abroad have appreciably affected the First Quarter results of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG. Group sales declined – also due to the substantial exchange rate losses in the Eastern European markets – by 8.0 percent over the year-earlier period to 795.6 million euros. At the same time, the usual seasonal operating loss increased from 20.8 to 49.2 million euros. This notwithstanding and against the backdrop of a distinct pick up of domestic business in April, the management continues to expect “adequate, positive EBITA” for the full fiscal year 2009.

The Interim Report 1/2009 is available here.

The statement of CEO Wolfgang Werner regarding the interim report 1/2009 is available here.

more

• Strategic partnership of MyHammer and Praktiker
• MyHammer joins hands with Praktiker: DIYers can get help from professionals
• Praktiker supports MyHammer clients with € 20 vouchers

Berlin / Kirkel – April 7, 2009. Praktiker and MyHammer – two leading brands in the world of DIY and home improvement – have agreed a strategic partnership for the joint development and implementation of new marketing concepts. The cooperation starts this week with a first promotion campaign in the field of gardening. Those who award an order for gardening or landscaping work for a value of at least € 200 via MyHammer by April 30 will receive a € 20 voucher from Praktiker as a bonus.

more

• EBITA increased to 129.1 million euro (+11.3 %) in 2008
• Extraordinary factors affect consolidated accounts for 2008
• 2009: Reasonable EBITA and sufficient liquidity expected despite general uncertainty

Frankfurt, 27 March ‘09 – Following a fiscal year yielding the highest operational result ever in the company’s history (129.1 million euro), securing earnings and liquidity has the highest priority for the Praktiker Group in the 2009 fiscal year. “Against the backdrop of the current recession, which has also arrived at the DIY sector, we are getting prepared for a distinct temporary slowdown of our activities in Germany and abroad”, the Management Board Chairman of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG, Wolfgang Werner, said at the annual press conference in Frankfurt/Main. The Management Board of the Group abstains from giving a guidance for the current fiscal year, but aims for reasonable earnings (EBITA) even in the event of receding sales volumes.

The speech and presentation of the annual press conference are available here.

more

• EBITA increased by 11.3 percent to euro 129.1 million
• Results impacted by devaluation of East European currencies and depreciation of deferred taxes
• Package of measures to enhance resistance to crisis
• Proposal for appropriation of earnings governed by heightened insecurity of current economic situation

Kirkel – March 2, 2009. According to the still preliminary data for fiscal 2008, the Praktiker Group achieved EBITA of euro 129.1 million. This is euro 13.1 million or 11.3 percent more than a year earlier.

more

Kirkel – 23 February 2009. In view of the deteriorating macroeconomic environment, the Management Board of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG created the preconditions for the introduction of short-time work in individual stores. These measures were agreed upon with the pertinent general works councils as a precautionary step. Whether and at which German stores this option will be implemented has not been decided as yet.

more

• Praktiker in Germany with stable sales trend in 4th quarter
• Growth in Eastern Europe hampered by exchange rate effects

Kirkel – January 8, 2009. Based on still preliminary figures, Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG achieved net consolidated sales of EUR 3.91 billion in the 2008 business year. This corresponds to a 1.0 percent decline from the record level of the previous year (currency adjusted 0.6 percent).

more