Continuation of expansionary policy

Hornbach intends to continue its expansionary policy, opening up to 13 large-format DIY and garden stores at home and abroad during the coming financial year. The main focus of this expansion will be abroad, with up to ten new openings, mainly in 2007. The group's entry into the Romanian market is currently being prepared. A first Hornbach store is to open in Bucharest in 2007. When that happens, the company will be represented in ten European countries.
In the recent 2005/2006 financial year (to 28.02.), the Hornbach Group increased group sales by 6.6 per cent to € 2.367 bn. The most important and largest operative part-group, Hornbach Baumarkt AG, increased sales revenue by 6.7 per cent to € 2.234 bn. Same-store sales improved throughout the group by 0.5 per cent. Like-for-like sales in the 32 foreign stores went up by 3.9 per cent. The share of sales attributable to the foreign DIY and garden stores rose from 33 to 35 per cent. The EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Tax) for the group as a whole amounts to € 91.8 mio (previous year: € 99.0 mio). An EBIT of € 70.2 mio (previous year: € 91.0 mio) is reported for the Hornbach Baumarkt AG part-group. The Hornbach Baustoff Union GmbH managed to improve its sales by 5.3 per cent to € 134.6 mio.