DJ EANS-Adhoc: ANDRITZ GROUP: financial year 2009Solid business development in spite of the difficult economic environment- Sales and earnings below the record level of 2008- Solid order intake- Order backlog slightly above the high level for 2008- Proposed dividend of 1.00 EUR per share

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ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
announcement.
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05.03.2010 

Graz, March 5, 2010.  International technology Group ANDRITZ recorded a solid
business development in the 2009 financial year in spite of the generally
difficult economic environment. Sales of the ANDRITZ GROUP amounted to
approximately 3.2 billion EUR, thus 11% below the record figure for 2008. Order
intake, at over 3.3 billion EUR, remained on a very solid level, only 10% below
the high value of 2008. The order backlog at the end of 2009 amounted to
approximately 4.4 billion EUR and was thus slightly higher than at the end of
2008. Due to the decline in sales and one-off restructuring expenses of
approximately 29 MEUR, the Group´s EBITA declined to 164.1 MEUR (2008: 233.2
MEUR). Profitability (EBITA margin) amounted to 5.1% (2008: 6.5%) - excluding
these one-off restructuring expenses, the EBITA margin was 6.0% (2008: 6.8%).
Net income (excl. non-controlling interests) amounted to 96.8 MEUR (2008: 139.7
MEUR). At the Annual General Meeting, the Executive Board will propose a
dividend payment of 1.00 EUR per share (2008: 1.10 EUR), which is equivalent to
an increase in the payout ratio to 52.9% (2008: 40.3%). 

Sales below record level of 2008 - HYDRO remains strong
Sales of the ANDRITZ GROUP amounted to 3,197.5 MEUR in 2009, thus 11.4% below
the record figure for the previous year (2008: 3,609.8 MEUR). While the HYDRO
business area achieved a significant increase in sales, sales in the other
business areas declined compared to 2008 - particularly in PULP & PAPER. 

Satisfactory order intake - slight increase of order backlog
Despite the difficult global economic conditions, order intake of the Group in
2009, at 3,349.3 MEUR, was only 9.6% below the high level of the previous year
(2008: 3,705.3 MEUR). This is mainly due to the very positive development of the
HYDRO business area, where order intake rose by 9.8% to a new record value of
1,693.9 MEUR (2008: 1,543.4 MEUR). In contrast, the other business areas -
particularly METALS - saw a decline in order intake compared to the previous
year. 

The order backlog of the ANDRITZ GROUP as of December 31, 2009 amounted to
4,434.5 MEUR, an increase of 3.7% compared to the previous year´s high level
(Dec. 31, 2008: 4,277.4 MEUR). While the order backlog of the HYDRO business
area showed a significant increase, particularly the METALS business area
recorded a decline. 

Earnings significantly lower, mainly due to one-off restructuring expenses
The Group´s EBITA amounted to 164.1 MEUR, significantly below the reference
figure for the previous year (2008: 233.2 MEUR). The profitability (EBITA
margin) amounted to 5.1% (2008: 6.5%). This decrease is mainly due to expenses
for capacity adjustments and operational restructuring of approximately 29 MEUR,
particularly in the PULP & PAPER business area, as well as due to the decline in
sales. Excluding these one-off expenses, the EBITA in 2009 amounted to 193.1
MEUR, equivalent to an EBITA margin of 6.0% (2008: 6.8%). 

Net income (excl. non-controlling interests) amounted to 96.8 MEUR (2008: 139.7
MEUR). 

Solid balance sheet structure - substantially higher liquidity
Total assets of the ANDRITZ GROUP as of December 31, 2009 increased to 3,309.3
MEUR (Dec. 31, 2008: 3,086.3 MEUR). The equity ratio as of December 31, 2009
amounted to 20.0% (Dec. 31, 2008: 18.7%). 

Liquid funds (cash and cash equivalents plus marketable securities) amounted to
1,082.1 MEUR as of December 31, 2009 (Dec. 31, 2008: 821.8 MEUR). Net liquidity
(liquid funds plus fair value of interest rate swaps minus financial
liabilities) increased to 677.9 MEUR, thus well above the value at the end of
last year (Dec. 31, 2008: 408.9 MEUR). 

Dividend: increase in payout ratio
At the Annual General Meeting, the Executive Board will propose a dividend
payment of 1.00 EUR per share (2008: 1.10 EUR), which is equivalent to an
increase in the payout ratio to 52.9% (2008: 40.3%). 

Outlook for 2010
`We are well-positioned for 2010 and expect a varied development for each of the
business areas. While we expect a continuing positive environment for the HYDRO
business area, we do not anticipate a substantial increase in investment
activity in the PULP & PAPER and METALS business areas. The other business areas
should see a slight positive development,´ says President and CEO Dr. Wolfgang
Leitner. 

Based on these expectations and the order backlog of more than 4.4 bn. EUR at
the end of 2009, the ANDRITZ GROUP expects sales in 2010 to remain unchanged or
slightly up compared to 2009. The cost reductions resulting from the
restructuring measures implemented in 2009 should positively impact the net
income. 

Key figures of the ANDRITZ GROUP 

(Acc. to IFRS; MEUR)           2009     2008      +/-  Q4 2009   Q4 2008     +/-
Sales                       3,197.5  3,609.8   -11.4%    867.3   1,070.9  -19.0%
  HYDRO                     1,378.0  1,205.9   +14.3%    390.6     407.1   -4.1%
  PULP & PAPER                903.3  1,326.6   -31.9%    232.1     345.2  -32.8%
  METALS                      473.4    566.2   -16.4%    121.5     154.0  -21.1%
  ENVIRONMENT & PROCESS       322.6    366.6   -12.0%     94.9     126.8  -25.2%
  FEED & BIOFUEL              120.2    144.5   -16.8%     28.2      37.8  -25.4% 

Order intake                3,349.3  3,705.3    -9.6%    794.4     804.9   -1.3%
  HYDRO                     1,693.9  1,543.4    +9.8%    315.4     531.3  -40.6%
  PULP & PAPER                923.0  1,033.8   -10.7%    318.6      78.3 +306.9%
  METALS                      296.2    611.5   -51.6%     34.5      76.9  -55.1%
  ENVIRONMENT & PROCESS       305.4    361.2   -15.4%     73.6      86.9  -15.3%
  FEED & BIOFUEL              130.8    155.4   -15.8%     52.3      31.5  +66.0% 

Order backlog
(as of end of period)       4,434.5  4,277.4    +3.7%  4,434.5   4,277.4   +3.7% 

EBITDA                        218.2    278.2   -21.6%     71.5      81.7  -12.5%
EBITDA margin                  6.8%     7.7%      -       8.2%      7.6%     - 

EBITA (excl.
restructuring expenses)       193.1    246.8   -21.8%     66.8      84.7  -21.1%
EBITA margin (excl.
restructuring expenses)        6.0%     6.8%      -       7.7%      7.9%     - 

EBITA (incl.
restructuring expenses)       164.1    233.2   -29.6%     62.1      71.1  -12.7%
EBITA margin (incl.
restructuring expenses)        5.1%     6.5%      -       7.2%      6.6%     - 

Earnings Before Interest
and Taxes (EBIT)              147.1    218.5   -32.7%     60.0      62.9   -4.6% 

Financial result                2.6     -8.1  +132.1%     -4.1      -8.6  +52.3% 

Earnings Before Taxes
(EBT)                         149.6    210.5   -28.9%     55.9      54.3   +2.9% 

Net income (excl.
non-controlling interests)     96.8    139.7   -30.7%     37.2      34.3   +8.5% 

Cash flow from
operating activities          345.7    255.0   +35.6%      1.6     -54.2 +103.0% 

Investments in fixed
tangible and intangible
assets                         70.5     69.7    +1.1%     19.1      27.5  -30.5% 

Employees
(as of end of period)        13,049   13,707    -4.8%   13,049    13,707   -4.8% 

The ANDRITZ GROUP
The ANDRITZ GROUP is a globally leading supplier of plants and services for the
hydropower, pulp and paper, metals, and other specialized industries
(solid/liquid separation, feed and biofuel). The Group is headquartered in Graz,
Austria, and has a staff of approximately 13,000 employees worldwide. ANDRITZ
operates over 120 production sites, service and sales companies all around the
world. 

The annual report and financial report are available on the ANDRITZ website at
www.andritz.com as an online and pdf version. Printed copies can be requested by
telephone (+43 316 6902 2722), fax (+43 316 6902 465), or e-mail
(petra.wolf@andritz.com). 

Disclaimer
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute `forward-looking
statements.´ These statements, which contain the words `believe´, `intend´,
`expect´, and words of a similar meaning, reflect the Executive Board´s beliefs
and expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause
actual results to differ materially. As a result, readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The company disclaims
any obligation to publicly announce the result of any revisions to the
forward-looking statements made herein, except where it would be required to do
so under applicable law. 

end of announcement                               euro adhoc
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 05, 2010 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)