Like many of its customers, Heidelberg has been
battered since the onset of the GFC five years ago and the simultaneous rush
away for print and into internet based communication.

However, the company says its result for the past
financial year and forward indicators mean it will be back in the black again
in the next financial year, ending March 2014.

Preliminary Group sales for the 12 months to March
were up five per cent on the previous year’s figure (EUR2.6bn) at EUR2.75bn.
Despite a number of countervailing effects, the growth in volume combined with
the savings made by the company’s Focus 2012 efficiency program improved the
preliminary result of operating activities (EBIT) excluding special items to
EUR28m compared to the previous year’s EUR3m.

Special items associated with Focus 2012 totaled
EUR65m in the financial year just closed. Due to special items and the negative
financial result, preliminary calculations indicate that the net loss will be
around EUR110m, down from the previous year of  EUR230m.

Preliminary incoming orders in the period under review
increased to EUR2.8bn compared to the previous year of EUR2.56bn.

Gerold Linzbach, the new CEO of Heidelberg says, “By meeting our forecast
for the year, we have reached a key milestone on our way to profitability.
Focus 2012 lays the foundation for us to start making a profit again from
financial year 2013/2014 onwards. By means of optimised structures we have also
made a start on adapting the company more effectively to the market segments in
which we operate and thus increase future profit contributions.” 

As of March 31, 2013, the Heidelberg Group had a workforce of 14,215, down from
the previous previous year’s total of 15,414.

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