Group - L. Possehl & Co. mbH

ovErviEW of tHE ECoNoMiC CoNditioN
of tHE GroUP
The 2007 fiscal year was a year of successful consolidation for
the Possehl Group. Group net sales increased from the previous year
by 4.8 % to e 1,521.7 million, results from ordinary operations rose by
1.9 % to e 75.3 million, and consolidated net profit increased by 15.1 %
to e 114.1 million. At the same time, net debt declined by e 123.0
million to a positive e 6.1 million. Thus, the Possehl Group was on
balance debt-free as of the end of the fiscal year.
All of the Group divisions recorded positive earnings in the reporting
year. With the exception of the Electronics division, which could not
duplicate the exceptional result of the previous year, all of the remaining
divisions exceeded the good results they achieved in 2006. Along with
encouraging growth in operating earnings, the sale of our 10 % equity
stake in Norddeutsche Affinerie AG positively influenced the consolidated
net profit and thus consolidated shareholders’ equity.
After two years of stormy growth, no major acquisitions could
be made during the reporting period. The M&A market for small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was highly competitive in 2007 and
purchase prices were often paid that were not economically justified.
We are maintaining our strategic focus on demonstrating that we are
a long-term and reliable new owner for SMEs.
L. Possehl & Co. mbH
Letter from the Executive Board
Company Boards
Report of the Controlling Boards
Successful over the Long Term
Group Management Report
Consolidated Financial Statements
Further Information
The Possehl Group is excellently positioned and has at its dis posal
substantial financial resources to continue pursuing profit-oriented
growth.
GroUP StrUCtUrE aNd oPEratioNS
The Possehl Group is a diversified company with approximately
7,000 employees and annual sales of e 1.5 billion. We hold a globally
leading position in our niche markets.
The Possehl Group is decentrally managed so that operational decisions
can be made as close to the market as possible. The individual
divisions have a high degree of autonomy in all market and customerrelated
matters. The most important tasks for L. Possehl & Co. mbH as
the management holding company are corporate strategy and portfolio
management, risk and opportunity management, personnel development,
and central financing.
The Group is divided into the three operative segments: Production,
Trading, and Services. These in turn currently encompass eight
divisions, whereby Services has its own segment:
Production trading Services
Precious Metals Processing
Electronics
Elastomer Processing
Cleaning Machines
textile finishing Systems
Special-purpose Construction
international trading
Environmental Protection
Broker activities
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