Profit continues to grow:

    - EPS increased by  20%

    - EBITDA increased by 32 %

Record high order backlog of NOK 62.8 billion

Continued strong markets

New global operating model

Share buy back programme initiated

First quarter 2007 consolidated revenues amounted to NOK  14 147 million up 34 percent compared with NOK 10 547 million for the same period last year, reflecting strong markets and high activity in all business areas.

EBITDA in the first quarter of 2007 was NOK 856 million, compared to NOK 649 million in the first quarter of 2006, up 32 percent. The EBITDA margin was 6.1 percent. EBITDA for the first quarter last year was impacted by a one-time sales gain of NOK 87 million from the divestment of Aker Kværner Power & Automation Systems.

Net financial expenses for the first quarter of 2007 were NOK 14 million, a reduction from NOK 84 million last year. This significant improvement reflects a favourable financial position after the refinancing of the company in December 2006 and the divestment of Pulping & Power.

Fluctuations in the fair value of hedging transactions represented an accounting gain under financial items of NOK 40 million in the first quarter. Reported EBITDA was negatively affected by NOK 6 million in the same period.

The profit after financial items for the first quarter 2007 was NOK 798 million, an improvement of 25 percent compared to the first quarter 2006 with a profit of NOK 637 million. The tax expense for the first quarter was NOK 248 million, which is 31 percent of profit before tax. Net profit for the first quarter was NOK 550 million giving earnings per share of NOK 2.01.

Cash flow from operating activities was negative NOK 1 561 million in the first quarter of 2007, reflecting a NOK 2 489 million increase in net current operating assets. Negative net current operating assets of NOK 2 172 million have reversed and the balance at quarter end was NOK 317 million. This is mainly due to a reduction in prepayments on contracts.

Cash and bank deposits at the end of the first quarter were reduced to NOK 3.4 billion. Undrawn committed long-term bank revolving credit facilities amounted to NOK 6.2 billion, representing a total liquidity buffer of NOK 9.6 billion. In addition, NOK 2 379 million is pledged for the defeased loan of EUR 260 million.

Long-term interest bearing debt remained at NOK 2.1 billion at the end of the first quarter 2007. Net interest bearing receivables is positive at NOK 1.9 billion.

Order intake in the first quarter was NOK 17.3 billion up 34 percent compared with the same period last year. At the end of March the order backlog was NOK 62.8 billion, an increase of 24 percent from end of first quarter 2006 and a 5 percent increase from end of 2006. The growth represents both new contracts and a strong growth in existing contracts.

The equity ratio at the end of the first quarter was 19.9 percent, a reduction from 25.8 percent at year end 2006 as a dividend of NOK 2 201 million was booked as debt after the approval by the Annual General Meeting held in the first quarter.

During the first quarter Aker Kvaerner announced a buy-back of 483 000 own shares. In connection with the  Annual General Meeting held 29 March, it was decided to split the shares 1 to 5 and to further cancel 1 146 170 of the own new shares. After the split and cancellation of shares, Aker Kværner currently holds 1 268 830 of the company's 274 000 000 outstanding shares, or 0.463 percent. The shares were traded ex dividends and based on the split from 30 March.

 

Aker Kvaerner optimizes its operations
To further strengthen its offering and become more transparent to the market, Aker Kvaerner is optimizing its operations by transforming its existing six business areas into five global business areas. By better combining those specialised units which work within the same market segments, we can strengthen the capacity and our offering of services and solutions to all markets. It will also enable more effective use of our total resources. The change supports the company's stated objective for further profitable growth.

For reporting purposes the main consequence of the organisational changes is the transfer of the India based engineering business, Aker Kvaerner Powergas, from Field Development to Process & Construction. Other changes are the transfer of the subsurface activity in MMO to Products & Technologies, and the Malaysia-based engineering business transfer from Field Development to Subsea. Historical information has been restated to reflect these changes.

 

 

Media:
Torbjørn S. Andersen, SVP Group Communications, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 67 51 30 36, Mob: +47 928 85 542

 

Investor relations:
Lasse Torkildsen, VP Investor Relations, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 67 51 30 39

 

Career opportunities:
Visit http://www.akerkvaerner.com/Internet/CareerCentre  

AKER KVÆRNER ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Kvaerner"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. The business within Aker Kvaerner comprises several industries, including Oil & Gas, Refining & Chemicals, Mining & Metals and Power Generation. The Aker Kvaerner group is organised in a number of separate legal entities. Aker Kvaerner is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities.

The parent company in the group is Aker Kværner ASA. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately NOK 50 billion and employs approximately 23 000 people in about 30 countries.

Aker Kvaerner is part of Aker (www.akerasa.com), a group of premier companies with a focus on energy, maritime and marine-resources industries. The Aker companies share a common set of values and long traditions of industrial innovation. As an industrial owner with a 40.1 per cent holding in Aker Kvaerner, Aker ASA takes an active role in the development of its holdings.

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see our web-pages www.akerkvaerner.com