Hartmann Q1 net income grows 10.6% to €21.6mn

Overall, the HARTMANN GROUP improved its results

EBIT increased by 10.5% to EUR 33.3 million as at March 31, 2014 compared to the previous year. Consolidated net income improved by10.6% to EUR 21.6 million.

The HARTMANN GROUP continued its profitable growth in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, despite the strong price pressure from customers and the #

 

Continued high equity ratio 

The equity ratio was 54.8% at the end of the first quarter of 2014. At March 31, 2014, net debt of the HARTMANN GROUP was EUR 45.8 million compared to EUR 93.7 million in the previous year.

 

Number of employees increased 

On March 31, 2014, the HARTMANN GROUP had 10,395 employees, an increase of 138 employees compared to the end of 2013. At the end of the first quarter of 2014, 42% of the employees were working in Germany, 58% in foreign operations.

 

Outlook

Also in the future, the HARTMANN GROUP expects average annual global growth similar to previous years in the relevant medical product categories. However, changes in the health systems, consolidation processes on the customer and provider side and the associated pressure for innovation as well as price pressures will continue to increase.

 

HARTMANN has a solid foundation with a wide range of opportunities for future growth. For example, with its HydroTherapy concept for the treatment of chronic and slow-healing wounds with just two products designed for each other, HARTMANN has chosen an innovative approach in the growing hydroactive wound care market. In addition to inpatient care, home delivery is gaining increasing importance for absorbent incontinence products in more and more countries. Therefore HARTMANN will expand its role internationally in the home delivery sector.

 

In the Infection Management segment, HARTMANN has positioned itself with a very high scientific and medical competence as a recognized specialist in the field of infection prevention. Other Group Activities are a major part of the portfolio for continued profitable growth within rapidly changing market structures.

 

Andreas Joehle, CEO of the HARTMANN GROUP: “Investments in products, markets and internal processes in past years will gradually have a positive effect on sales and earnings. Overall, we see ourselves well positioned and expect moderate sales growth and a moderate increase in EBIT in 2014.”