STRABAG SE increases output volume in 2008 by 28 percent
Contact
Diana Klein
Corporate Communications
Telephone +43 1 22422-1116
diana.klein(at)strabag.com
 
  • Order backlog of € 13.3 billion
  • 19 % increase in number of employees
  • Outlook for 2009: slight increase of output volume – CAPEX 4 % of revenue
 
Vienna, 9 February 2009 STRABAG SE was able to further increase its output volume by 28 % in the 2008 financial year. The significant growth in the Transportation Infrastructures segment (+36 %) is contrasted by single-digit growth in Building Construction & Civil Engineering, making Transportation Infrastructures the group’s largest segment at this time.

The increased output volume in Building Construction & Civil Engineering is among other things due to the expansion of the group’s presence in Russia as well as growth in Germany and Slovakia. While Transportation Infrastructures stagnated in 2007, in the 2008 financial year the segment showed significant growth thanks, among other things, to enterprise acquisitions in Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Scandinavia. Projects in Germany, Italy, Austria and Hungary contributed to growth in the output volume of the Special Divisions & Concessions segment. As in the year before, the group’s activities in Central and Eastern Europe contributed 31 % to the group’s output volume in the 2008 financial year.

The order backlog crossed the € 10 billion mark in 2007 and grew further by 23 % to € 13.3 billion in 2008. The level of employees grew by 19 %, by a lower degree than output volume and order backlog. The significant growth in the Special Divisions & Concessions segment is due to an enterprise acquisition in Germany.

In the 2008 financial year, STRABAG SE endeavoured to continue its growth in Russia. With an increase in the output volume in Russia by 84 % to € 476 million, this aim was also met. For the 2009 financial year, however, STRABAG forecasts no further growth in Russia. Instead, the output volume is expected to remain more or less stable at the 2008 levels.

While the growth outlook in Russia was withdrawn, several successful project acquisitions in Transportation Infrastructures and an order backlog of € 1.2 billion (previous year: € 478 million) allow for a forecast of significant growth in Poland. The output volume in Poland in 2008 stood at about € 889 million.

STRABAG SE now expects that the group’s output volume in the 2009 financial year could grow slightly. Investment costs (CAPEX) are expected to reach 4 % of revenue. Larger acquisitions are not planned at this time.

The 2008 Annual Report of STRABAG SE will be published on 30 April 2009. At this time, STRABAG SE will also comment on the further outlook for the 2009 financial year.
STRABAG SE is one of Europe’s leading construction groups. With more than 73,000 employees, STRABAG posted an output volume of € 13.7 billion for the 2008 financial year. From its core markets of Austria and Germany, STRABAG is present via its numerous subsidiaries in all countries of Eastern and South-East Europe, in selected markets in Western Europe and on the Arabian Peninsula. STRABAG’s activities span the entire construction industry (Building Construction and Civil Engineering, Transportation Infrastructures, Tunnelling) and cover the entire value-added chain in the field of construction. More information is available at www.strabag.com.