Preliminary Figures for 2007: GfK Group Posts Most Successful Fourth Quarter in its History
28/02/2008 08:06
PR Newswire
NUREMBERG, Germany, February 28 /PRNewswire/ -- In financial year 2007, the GfK Group achieved a marked rise in sales and
income. The highly successful fourth quarter contributed to these
developments, in particular. In the fourth quarter, GfK achieved organic
sales growth totaling 6.5% and a margin of 16.8%. Based on the preliminary
key figures, GfK achieved an organic sales increase of 5.8% to EUR 1,162
million in financial year 2007. This means that sector growth, which experts
estimate at around 5.0%, was once again substantially exceeded. Adjusted for
acquisitions and currency effects, sales were up by 4.5%. Adjusted operating
income rose by 4.3% year-on-year to EUR 157 million.
In relation to sales as well as income the fourth quarter of 2007 was the
most successful in GfK's history. In financial year 2007, with the exception
of HealthCare, all GfK divisions achieved a sales increase in organic terms
compared with the same period in the prior year and exceeded the excellent
figures of the prior year.
All regions achieved an organic sales increase in financial year 2007.
With double-digit percentage point growth rates, GfK recorded highly dynamic
growth in the regions Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific and
Latin America.
As in the prior years, GfK once again recorded a rise in the number of
its employees in 2007. The GfK Group has a staff complement of 9,070 across
the globe.
In order for shareholders to benefit from the growing success of the
company, the Supervisory Board and the Management Board intend to propose a
significant increase in the dividend of 25.0% from EUR 0.36 to EUR 0.45 per
share to the Annual General Meeting on May 21, 2008.
Marion Eisenblätter, Tel. +49(0)911-395-2645, marion.eisenblaetter@gfk.com