ALSO: Sustainable positive development

ICT market

According to the CONTEXT market research institute, in the third quarter of 2015, the value of the ICT distribution market in the regions that are relevant for ALSO (excluding the Baltics, Netherlands, and Poland) grew by 5.9 percent compared to the previous year.

Development of the individual market segments

In the Central Europe market segment, net sales grew by 10.2 percent from the previous year, to 4 335.5 million euros. In this region, ALSO again delivered double-digit sales growth, thanks mainly to a pleasing development in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Profit before taxes (EBT) rose from 38.2 million euros to 41.5 million euros (+8.6 percent). The EBT margin stayed at the previous year's level of 1.0 percent.

In the Northern/Eastern Europe market segment, net sales rose by 5.2 percent compared to the previous year, to 1 248.9 million euros. Norway and Finland were the main contributors to the growth. Profit before taxes (EBT) improved from 8.0 million euros to 12.7 million euros (+58.8 percent), and the EBT margin from 0.7 percent to 1.0 percent.

These results, as well as non-recurring special effects from the logistics activities in Augsburg totaling -12.6 million euros, are contained in the profit before taxes (EBT) of the Group.

Outlook for 2015

ALSO reaffirms its forecast for fiscal year 2015 and – barring unforeseeable events – expects Group net profit to be at the same level as in the previous year.