United Kingdom, 2007-Jun-25
Strengthening of diagnostics business through planned takeover of Dade Behring
United Kingdom, 2007-Jun-25
Siemens showed substantial growth in Operations in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 and boosted Group profit 22% to €1.504 billion. Every Group in Operations increased its profit year-over-year. Net income jumped 54% to €2.065 billion. Siemens also grew revenue and new orders: Revenue rose 8% to €20.176 billion and orders climbed 13% to €22.147 billion. With the release of its quarterly figures, Siemens also announced the sale of its automobile supplier business Siemens VDO Automotive to Continental AG for €11.4 billion as well as the planned acquisition of the medical diagnostics company Dade Behring, Inc., based in the U.S., by the Medical Solutions Group for approx. US$7.0 billion (approx. €5 billion).
"Siemens’ third quarter demonstrates that the company is on track, and we are off to a good start on our Fit for 2010 program," said Peter Löscher, who joined Siemens as CEO at the beginning of the fourth quarter. "This program includes ambitious new targets for profitability, cash, and return on capital employed as well as leadership in corporate responsibility.
In the third quarter, ended June 30, 2007, Siemens’ net income rose to €2.065 billion, an increase of 54% compared to €1.344 billion in the third quarter a year earlier. Basic earnings per share rose to €2.25 from €1.45 in the prior-year quarter, and diluted earnings per share increased to €2.18 from €1.11 a year earlier. Group profit from Operations for the quarter climbed 22% year-over-year to €1.504 billion despite negative equity investment income of €371 million related to Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). Most Groups delivered strong double-digit profit growth. Leading earnings contributors included Automation and Drives (A&D), Medical Solutions (Med), Power Generation (PG), Siemens VDO Automotive (SV), Power Transmission and Distribution (PTD), and Osram. The profit margins at a majority of the Groups are within the new margin ranges established at the start of the Fit for 2010 program in April of this year.
Research and development (R&D) expense rose to €995 million from €848 million in the third quarter a year earlier, primarily at A&D and Med which made acquisitions between the periods under review. R&D as a percent of sales rose to 4.9% from 4.5% a year earlier.
In a favorable macroeconomic environment, third-quarter orders increased 13%, to €22.147 billion, and revenue of €20.176 billion was up 8% compared to the prior-year quarter. Excluding currency translation and portfolio effects, third-quarter orders rose 12% and revenue was up 7%. A majority of Groups in Operations increased both orders and revenue year-over-year, with particularly strong growth at A&D, Med, PTD and PG. On a regional basis, Asia-Pacific and Europe outside Germany posted double-digit growth in both orders and revenue compared to the prior-year period.
Looking forward, Löscher noted: "In the fourth quarter, I will be concentrating on five areas: compliance, leadership culture and organizational structure, business portfolio, high-growth markets, and innovation. Ultimately, Siemens needs to get faster, less complex and more focused. Today’s announcements regarding Siemens VDO Automotive and Medical Solutions are important steps in that direction."
Focused further development of the business portfolio
Siemens AG has signed an agreement with Continental AG, Hanover, Germany, to sell its entire stake in Siemens VDO Automotive AG (SV). The price is €11.4 billion. The closing of the transaction is subject to approval by the responsible antitrust authorities and other closing conditions and is expected in the current calendar year. Preparations for the planned IPO of SV will be terminated. The sale of SV supports the goals set in the company’s Fit for 2010 program. These goals include a focused further development of the business portfolio in the three application fields of Energy and Environmental Care, Automation and Control/Industrial and Public Infrastructures, and Healthcare.
Siemens aims to further expand the application field of Healthcare through the planned takeover of Dade Behring, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois/USA. The company intends to buy all available shares of Dade Behring and is making Dade Behring shareholders an offer of US$77 in cash per share. The planned acquisition has a transaction volume of roughly US$7 billion (ca. €5 billion). Closing is expected in the second quarter of fiscal 2008. Completion of the merger is subject to receipt of customary, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. This deal, together with the acquisitions of Diagnostic Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics in fiscal 2006, puts Siemens in a position to become No. 1 in the field of laboratory diagnostics.
All figures are preliminary and unaudited. Reconciliation and Definitions of our Non-GAAP Measures are available on our Investor Relations website under www.siemens.com/ir, Financial Publications, Quarterly Reports.
This document contains forward-looking statements and information – that is, statements related to future, not past, events. These statements may be identified by words as "expects", "looks forward to", "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "will" or words of similar meaning. Such statements are based on our current expectations and certain assumptions, and are, therefore, subject to certain risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond Siemens’ control, affect its operations, performance, business strategy and results and could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Siemens worldwide to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For us, particular uncertainties arise, among others, from: changes in general economic and business conditions (including margin developments in major business areas); the challenges of integrating major acquisitions and implementing joint ventures and other significant portfolio measures; changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates; introduction of competing products or technologies by other companies; lack of acceptance of new products or services by customers targeted by Siemens worldwide; changes in business strategy; the outcome of pending investigations and legal proceedings; our analysis of the potential impact of such matters on our financial statements; as well as various other factors. More detailed information about our risk factors is contained in Siemens’ filings with the SEC, which are available on the Siemens website, www.siemens.com and on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the relevant forward-looking statement as expected, anticipated, intended, planned, believed sought, estimated or projected. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated.
About Siemens in the UK:
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 164 years ago. The company employs 20,314 people in the UK, including about 6,500 in the manufacturing sector. Last year’s revenues were £3.5 billion, including exports of £580 million, and it spent almost £75 million on research and development. As a leading global engineering company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, including the shortage of natural resources, increasing environmental care, and a growing demand for healthcare, mobility and security. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Bracknell, Berkshire. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
Notes to editors
Mr. Anne Keogh
Siemens plc
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