Archive for February, 2012

DGAP-News: NORMA Group with record sales and earnings in 2011

NORMA Group with record sales and earnings in 2011

  - Preliminary sales of fiscal year 2011 exceed forecast

  - Sales increase by 18.5% to EUR 581 million compared to the previous
    year

  - Adjusted EBITA improves by 20.2% to EUR 103 million

  - Adjusted EBITA margin rises from 17.4% to the record level of 17.7%

  - Net debt decreases to below EUR 200 million

  - Order backlog increases from EUR 188 million in the previous year to
    EUR 219 million

Maintal, Germany, 27 February 2012 - NORMA Group AG (´NORMA Group´), an
international market and technology leader in engineered joining
technology, achieved record sales and earnings in fiscal year 2011.
According to preliminary figures, sales grew by 18.5% to EUR 581.4 million
(2010: EUR 490.4 million) in the past fiscal year. The adjusted operating
earnings (adjusted EBITA) of EUR 102.7 million was up 20.2% year on year
(2010: EUR 85.4 million). NORMA Group thus even slightly exceeded the sales
forecast it had revised upwards in July 2011. Over the full year, the
adjusted EBITA margin improved from 17.4% in the previous year to the
record level of 17.7%. The net debt of the SDAX company has been reduced to
EUR 198 million (31.12.2010: EUR 344 million). The order backlog increased
to EUR 219 million by the end of the financial year 2011 compared to EUR
188 million in the previous year. This enables NORMA Group to look to the
fiscal year 2012 with confidence.

Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group: ´We are looking back on a very
successful year that even exceeded our own expectations. The IPO in April
2011 was certainly a milestone, but our business and our earnings also
showed substantial momentum. We grew across all divisions and regions.´

In its last guidance for the financial year 2011, NORMA Group had
forecasted sales of about EUR 570 million and an EBITA margin of near
18.0%.

Positive development including fourth quarter of 2011

In the fourth quarter of 2011, NORMA Group generated sales of EUR 139.6
million up 8.3% compared to the previous year (Q4/2010: EUR 128.9 million).
Adjusted EBITA grew by 9.5% to EUR 22.6 million (Q4/2010: EUR 20.6
million). The adjusted EBITA margin was 16.2% (Q4/2010: 16.0%).

NORMA Group AG - in figures

Overview of key financial      Financial Year 2011    Financial Year 2010
indicators
(in EUR millions)  01.01. - 31.12.2011    01.01. - 31.12.2010
Sales                          581.4                  490.4
Adjusted EBITA                 102.7                  85.4
Adjusted EBITA margin          17.7 %                 17.4 %
Net debt (31.12.)              198                    344
Order book (31.12.)            219                    188

Overview of key financial indicators
(in EUR
millions)                                              Q4 2011    Q4 2010
Sales                                                  139.6      128.9
Adjusted EBITA                                         22.6       20.6
Adjusted EBITA margin                                  16.2       16.0

More information is available from the Investor Relations section at
http://www.normagroup.com.

Upcoming events

A comprehensive report with detailed explanation will be provided upon
presentation of the final fiscal 2011 figures at the balance sheet press
conference as well as the analyst and investor conference on 28 March 2012.

For more information

Daphne Recker
Media Relations
Email: daphne.recker@normagroup.com  
Tel.: +49 (0)6181 - 610 2743

Andreas Trösch
Investor Relations
Email: andreas.troesch@normagroup.com
Tel.: +49 (0)6181 - 610 2741

About NORMA Group

NORMA Group is an international market and technology leader in engineered
joining technology. The company manufactures a wide range of innovative
engineered joining technology solutions in three product categories (clamp,
connect and fluid) and offers more than 35,000 high-quality products and
solutions to approximately 10,000 customers in 80 countries. NORMA Group
joining products can be found in vehicles, ships, trains, aircraft,
domestic appliances, engines and plumbing systems. NORMA Group generated
preliminary sales of around EUR 580 million in 2011. With around 4,200
employees, NORMA Group operates a global network of 17 production
facilities as well as eleven other sales and distribution sites across
Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. NORMA Group has its headquarters in
Maintal, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. NORMA Group was formed in 2006 as
a result of the merger between the German Rasmussen Group and the Swedish
ABA Group. Since April 2011, NORMA Group is listed on the German stock
exchange.

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain future-oriented statements.
Future-oriented statements include all statements which do not relate to
historical facts and events and contain future-oriented expressions such as
´believe´, ´estimate´, ´assume´, ´expect´, ´forecast´, ´intend´, ´could´ or
´should´ or expressions of a similar kind. Such future-oriented statements
are subject to risks and uncertainties since they relate to future events
and are based on the company´s current assumptions, which may not in the
future take place or be fulfilled as expected. The company points out that
such future-oriented statements provide no guarantee for the future and
that the actual events including the financial position and profitability
of the NORMA Group AG and developments in the economic and regulatory
fundamentals may vary substantially (particularly on the down side) from
those explicitly or implicitly assumed in these statements. Even if the
actual assets for the NORMA Group AG, including its financial position and
profitability and the economic and regulatory fundamentals, are in
accordance with such future-oriented statements in this press release, no
guarantee can be given that this will continue to be the case in the
future.

End of Corporate News

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DGAP-News: NORMA Group with record sales and earnings in 2011

Oscars 2012: 'The Artist's' Jean Dujardin cops to a cuss word

  Jean Dujardin admitted to dropping the French equivalent of the F-bomb during his acceptance speech for lead actor in “The Artist” during the Oscars ceremony Sunday night.

"I said, ‘It’s amazing, it’s incredible, it’s unbelievable,' " the French actor said in halting English until his translator whispered in his ear that he had actually been asked whether he used profanity.

“Uh, yes,” he said, shrugging and smiling playfully.

From there, the press room was whisked to Paris as Dujardin took, and answered, the bulk of his questions in French.
 
PHOTOS: Red carpet arrivals | Quotes | Winners | Best & Worst

It was a one-of-a-kind moment backstage since Dujardin was the first French actor to win such an award, despite being one of several nominated over the years.

Now that he will go down in history for his portrayal of silent film star George Valentin, does he hope to transition to “talkies” in America?

“I’m not American actor, I’m French actor,” said Dujardin shyly in English.  “I continue in France.”

Then he whispered in his translator’s ear.

“If he can make another silent movie in America, he’d like to,” his translator said. Dujardin smiled. Everyone laughed.

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'The Artist' wins three top Oscars, including best picture

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Photo: Jean Dujardin backstage with his Oscar. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

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Oscars 2012: 'The Artist's' Jean Dujardin cops to a cuss word

Monday February 27 2012

SAN MATEO, Rizal--Three newcomers in the trail-running scene stamped their class last Sunday in the Pang Rave Run, the first leg of the Vaseline Men Xterra Off-road Triathlon Series.

Twenty nine-year-old Carlito Pantillaga, showing how well he has adjusted from running a footrace on a well-paved roads to negotiating a rocky and uneven terrain, won his second race in three weeks by topping the premier 22-kilometer men’s division.

Joyette Jopson, the daughter of a renowned political activist, the late Edgar Jopson, took the women’s honors, while her boyfriend, Canadian triathlete Matt O’Halloran also claimed a top podium finish in the 10-kilometer men’s action.

Pantillaga, an airport employee, was alone when he ran some 500-meters downhill to the finish line inside the Timberland Heights in one hour, 40 minutes and 56 seconds.

Nobody chased him after Pantillaga took a steady pace up the starting line, with Australian diplomat William Robinson ending up almost 30 minutes behind him in second spot in 2:10.35. Felix Abuel placed third in 2:12.15.

“Mula sa start, wala na akong kasabay. Ang ruta ay palitan lang ng pataas at pababa kaya maintain lang ako ng pace ko,” said Pantillaga, who took the local honors in the 42-kilometer course of the 2012 Condura Skyway Marathon last Feb. 4.

The 33-year-old Jopson, an executive of a chain of dental clinics, overtook ultramarathon specialist Olive Cortez in the last seven kilometers to dominate the women’s side in 2:28.55. Peter Atencio

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(Published in the Manila Standard Today newspaper on /2012/february/28.)

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Monday February 27 2012

This Week in Money: February 25, 2012 – Video

26-02-2012 14:35 Jack Crooks - Oil prices. Ellen Brown - Credit default swaps. Mike 'Mish' Shedlock - Eurozone update. Produced by http://www.HoweStreet.com

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This Week in Money: February 25, 2012 - Video

The Offense – Time Is Money (OFFICIAL VIDEO) – Video

26-02-2012 15:04 The Offense "Time Is Money" (Official Video) Back 2 The Basics Again (Bars For Life) On Hit Music (OHM) Shot by Michael Jay Films Download Mixtape at: http://www.hotnewhiphop.com Follow us @TheOffense @PCThaDon_OHM @AMeazy_OHM

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The Offense - Time Is Money (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - Video