2007-04-27 09:00:00 CEST

2007-04-27 09:00:00 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

Finnish English
Etteplan Oyj - Quarterly report

INTERIM REPORT 1 JANUARY - 31 MARCH 2007


INTERIM REPORT 1 JANUARY - 31 MARCH 2007                                   

ETTEPLAN'S REVENUE GROWS BY 44%; OPERATING PROFIT EUR 4.3 MILLION               

- Consolidated revenue: EUR 32.2 million (22.4 million)                         
- Operating profit:     EUR 4.3 million (1.5 million)                           
- Net profit:           EUR 3.1 million (0.9 million)                           
- Earnings per share:   EUR 0.32 (0.09)                                         
- Personnel at the end of the report period: 1,707 employees (1,329)
                                 
(Figures in parenthesis refer to the corresponding period of the previous year, 
unless otherwise indicated.)                                                    

Etteplan achieved all the goals set for the period in their entirety. A good    
demand situation for design orders and information technology raised the        
workload level. This, coupled with long-term, systematic efforts to improve     
co-operation between Group units, had a favourable impact on earnings. The      
divestment of NATLABS Oy (an EMC measurement laboratory) also improved operating
profit with capital gains of EUR 0.84 million.                                  

Organic growth accounted for 18% of the increase in revenue. The acquisitions of
TeknikPartner AB and LCA Engineering Oy primarily accounted for the rest. Growth
was brisk in both of the company's segments (Delivery Design and Product        
Development). Demand for design services improved in all market areas with a    
significant increase in revenue in Sweden in particular.                        

Revenue and result                                                              

Etteplan's revenue showed a clear increase on the previous year, up 43.8% to EUR
32.2 million (EUR 22.4 million).                                                

Operating profit during the review period totalled EUR 4.3 million (EUR 1.5     
million), representing 13.2% of revenue (6.7%). Profit for the period before    
taxes was EUR 4.2 million (EUR 1.5 million). Taxes amounted to EUR 0.9 million  
(EUR 0.4 million). Taxes have been periodized in line with the result for the   
review period. Income tax rate calculated from profit before taxes in the       
consolidated income statement was 21%. Tax-exempt capital gains from the        
divestment of NATLABS Oy shares lowered the tax rate for the period.            

Net profit for the period amounted to EUR 3.1 million (EUR 0.9 million).        
Earnings per share were EUR 0.32 (EUR 0.09). Equity per share grew by 27.2% to  
EUR 2.40 (EUR 1.89). Return on investment showed a clear improvement on the     
comparison period at 49.6% (27.4%).                                             

Business operations                                                             

Etteplan operates as a partner of large and medium-sized internationally        
operating industrial companies, providing industrial engineering design         
services. The Group's design services are divided into two segments: Delivery   
Design and Product Development.                                                 

The Delivery Design segment provides a broad range of design services for the   
design of production facilities and the machinery and equipment in them. Related
commissioning, site supervision and training services are also offered. The     
Product Development segment provides diversified design and implementation      
services for product development, as well as services for product information   
content production. Services are based on long-term partnerships with customers 
and are aimed to ensure the customer's competitiveness in the future.           

Etteplan's customer base comprises equipment manufacturers and end-users in the 
wood-processing industry as well as the process, automotive, lifting and        
hoisting equipment and electronics industries.                                  

Major events in the first quarter                                               

In accordance with the letter of intent signed in October 2006 with Larox       
Corporation, 10 employees working on design and documentation tasks at Larox's  
Finnish locations transferred to Etteplan as of 1 January 2007.                 

Etteplan Oyj acquired the entire share capital of Kouvola company LCA           
Engineering Oy in January. The company was established in 1993 and provides     
process and plant design services to both industrial companies and machinery and
device suppliers, especially those in the wood processing industry. The         
agreement will bolster Etteplan's position in wood processing projects in       
particular and also those involving investments in Russia.                      

Etteplan increased its share capital by 196,347 shares and EUR 49,086.75 by     
means of a directed share issue in February. The new shares were used as payment
in the acquisition of LCA Engineering Oy. The new shares were entered into the  
Trade Register on 7 February 2007 and became subject to public trading on the   
Helsinki Stock Exchange together with the old shares on 8 February 2007. The    
company's share capital after the increase totals EUR 2,492,319.25 and 9,969,277
shares. The increase in share capital was reported in a stock exchange release  
dated 7 February 2007.                                                          

In March, Etteplan signed an agreement to broaden co-operation with Intertek. As
part of the agreement, the entire share capital, operations and staff of        
Etteplan's subsidiary NATLABS Oy were transferred to Intertek. The agreement is 
in line with Etteplan's strategy to focus on providing its customers with       
industrial technology design services in the international market. As a result  
of the co-operation, Etteplan will be able to offer its customers not just      
design but also approval and testing services through Intertek's global network.

The Annual General Meeting held in March granted the Board of Directors the     
authorization to:                                                               

- decide on granting a maximum of 4,000,000 shares in one or more lots through  
the issuance of shares, option rights or other special rights entitling to      
shares pursuant to Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act. The      
authorization includes the right to decide to issue new shares or assign own    
shares held by the company. The authorization is valid for three (3) years,     
beginning from the Annual General Meeting's decision on 29 March 2007 and ending
on 29 March 2010.                                                               

- decide to acquire the company's own shares in one or more lots using the      
company's non-restricted shareholders' equity. Acquisition of the company's own 
shares may be carried out otherwise than in proportion to the holdings of the   
shareholders, that is, the Board of Directors may decide on a directed          
acquisition of own shares. The authorization is valid for eighteen (18) months, 
beginning from the Annual General Meeting's decision on 29 March 2007 and ending
on 29 September 2008.                                                           

The decisions of the Annual General Meeting are presented in detail in a stock  
exchange release dated 29 March 2007.                                           

Etteplan received numerous major orders from key customers during the review    
period. As an example Etteplan Design S.r.l from Italy has received an          
assignment from Metso Paper Como which includes the assembly and detail design  
of a paper machine rebuild. The company also signed a continuation agreement    
with Nokian Tyres concerning plant and building technology design for the       
extension to its Vsevolozhsk tyre plant in the St Petersburg area. Etteplan is  
also designing building technology for two major logistics centres opening in   
Gorelovo near St Petersburg.                                                    

Personnel                                                                       

The Etteplan Group's operations and number of personnel have grown steadily. The
Group's average payroll during the report period was 1,703 employees (1,327) and
the number of staff at the end of the period was 1,707 employees (1,329). The   
number of employees rose due to active recruitment and the business operations  
transferred to the Group; these employees are almost solely allocated to the    
implementation of customer projects. 739 people worked for the Group abroad.    

Capital expenditures                                                            

The Group's total capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.4 million (EUR 0.4     
million). The largest single investment was the acquisition of the entire share 
capital of LCA Engineering Oy. Other capital expenditures were earmarked for the
implementation and development of business operations.                          

Risks and risk management                                                       
                                                                                
Risk management within the Group encompasses corporate governance within the    
Group as well as the management of operational and financial risks. The Group's 
corporate governance guidelines and quality system are the means used for the   
supervision of administrative risk within the Group. The risks are itemized in  
the Notes to the 2006 financial statements.                                     

Unpredictable changes in customers' order books pose the greatest risk to the   
company's business. Owing to their nature, the company's business operations    
involve no significant credit, environmental or foreign currency risks.         

Financial position                                                              
                                                                                
Compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, Etteplan's financial
structure has changed as a result of acquisitions made by the company and their 
financing arrangements. Total assets at 31 March 2007 increased by 55.0% to EUR 
61.3 million (EUR 39.6 million). Balance sheet goodwill rose to EUR 19.9 million
(EUR 9.0 million). The Group's cash and cash equivalents totalled EUR 7.1       
million (EUR 5.3 million). The Group's interest-bearing liabilities increased as
a result of financial arrangements for an acquisition carried out in the second 
quarter of 2006 and stood at EUR 10.2 million (EUR 2.2 million) at the end of   
the period. The equity ratio declined to 40.5% (49.5%).                         

Shares                                                                          

The Etteplan Oyj share (ETTIV) has been quoted in the Nordic Exchange's Small   
Cap market capitalization group in the Industrials sector as of 2 October 2006. 
Previously, the company's share was listed on the Main List of the Helsinki     
Stock Exchange.                                                                 

The company's share capital at 31 March 2007 was EUR 2,492,319.25 and the number
of shares outstanding was 9,969,277. The company has one series of shares and   
the accounting countervalue of a share is EUR 0.25. All shares confer an equal  
right to a dividend and the company's funds.                                    

The company did not hold any of its own shares on 31 March 2007 and did not buy 
back any of its own shares during the review period.                            

The authorizations to increase the share capital, to take convertible loans     
and/or issue option rights, and buy back and transfer own shares (granted to the
Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting held on 29 March 2007) remain  
valid. No new authorizations were exercised during the review period. The       
authorizations granted to the Board of Directors are presented in detail in a   
stock exchange release dated 29 March 2007.                                     

Outlook for the near future                                                     

The company holds a stable position in the Nordic countries, its main market    
area. Demand for industrial technology design services is forecast to remain    
good in all key market areas throughout the current quarter.                    

Company's full-year revenue is expected to grow and a notable improvement is    
expected in the result for 2007. Growth will occur both organically and through 
acquisitions.                                                                   

The information presented herein has not been audited.                          

Hollola, 27 April 2007                                                          

Etteplan Oyj                                                                    

Board of Directors                                                              


For additional information, contact: CEO Heikki Hornborg,                       
tel. + 358 400 873 063 or Pia Björk, CFO, Vice President, Corporate Planning,   
tel. +358 400 241 815                                                           


APPENDICES                                                                      
Consolidated Income Statement                                                   
Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                      
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                                
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                     
Key figures                                                                     
Notes to the Interim Report                                                     


Etteplan Oyj's Q2 interim report for 2007 will be published on 8 August 2007.   
Releases and other corporate information are available on Etteplan's website at 
www.etteplan.com.                                                               


DISTRIBUTION                                                                    
Helsinki Stock Exchange                                                         
Principal media                                                                 


CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT                                                   
(EUR 1 000)                       1-3/2007  1-3/2006  1-12/2006                 

Revenue                             32 232    22 416    101 698                 
Other operating income                 906        46        219                 
Materials and services              -1 726    -1 040     -6 728                 
Staff costs                        -22 226   -16 015    -71 111                 
Other operating expenses            -4 424    -3 393    -15 213                 
Depreciation and amortisation         -496      -502     -2 042                 
Operating profit                     4 265     1 512      6 823                 
Financial income                        34         8        172                 
Financial expenses                     -94       -30       -299                 
Profit before taxes                  4 205     1 490      6 695                 
Income taxes                          -892      -446     -2 096                 
Profit for the financial period      3 313     1 044      4 599                 
Net profit for the financial                                                    
period attributable to                                                          
minority interest                     -190      -158       -427                 
Net profit for the financial                                                    
period attributable to equity                                                   
holders of the Company               3 123       887      4 172                 

Basic earnings per share, EUR         0.32      0.09       0.43                 


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET                                                      
(EUR 1 000)                       31.3.2007 31.3.2006 31.12.2006                

ASSETS                                                                          
Non-current assets                                                              
Property, plant and equipment        2 244     3 239      2 759                 
Goodwill                            19 919     8 997     18 580                 
Other intangible assets              2 176     2 008      2 124                 
Investments available for sales        420       415        425                 
Other long-term receivables            822         0        852                 
Deferred tax assets                    251       115         88                 
Non-current assets, total           25 831    14 773     24 829                 

Current assets                                                                  
Stocks                                   0        25          0                 
Trade and other receivables         28 329    19 377     24 191                 
Financial assets at fair value                                                  
through income statement                 0       475          0                 
Current tax assets                      75        81         28                 
Cash and cash equivalents            7 075     4 821      6 174                 
Current assets, total               35 479    24 779     30 393                 
TOTAL ASSETS                        61 310    39 552     55 222                 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                                          
Capital attributable to                                                         
equity holders                                                                  
 Share capital                       2 492     2 403      2 443                 
 Share premium account               9 179     8 269      9 179                 
 Unrestricted equity fund            1 241         0          0                 
 Cumulative translation adjustment    -407      -162         43                 
 Retained earnings                   8 339     6 759      6 759                 
 Net profit for the financial                                                   
 period                              3 123       887      4 172                 
Capital attributable to                                                         
equity holders, total               23 968    18 156     22 596                 
Minority interest                      861     1 291        872                 
Equity, total                       24 829    19 448     23 468                 

Non-current liabilities                                                         
Deferred tax liability                 954       178      1 046                 
Non-current interest-bearing                                                    
liabilities                          8 575     1 455      8 967                 
Non-current liabilities, total       9 529     1 632     10 013                 

Current liabilities                                                             
Current interest-bearing                                                        
liabilities                          1 621       779      1 837                 
Trade and other payables            25 331    17 692     19 904                 
Current liabilities, total          26 952    18 471     21 741                 
Liabilities, total                  36 481    20 104     31 754                 
TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES        61 310    39 552     55 222                 


CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT                                                
(EUR 1 000)                       1-3/2007  1-3/2006  1-12/2006                 

OPERATING CASH FLOW                                                             
Cash receipts from customers        28 749    21 819     99 290                 
Cash receipts from other                                                        
operating income                        68        37        194                 
Operating expenses paid             27 453    20 682     90 851                 
OPERATING CASH FLOW BEFORE                                                      
FINANCIAL ITEMS AND TAXES            1 364     1 175      8 633                 

Interest and payment paid                                                       
for financial expenses                  90        18        249                 
Interest received                       34         8        172                 
Income taxes paid                      434       255      1 782                 
OPERATING CASH FLOW (A)                874       909      6 773                 

INVESTMENT CASH FLOW                                                            
Purchase of tangible and                                                        
intangible assets                      265       270      1 612                 
Acquisition of subsidiaries            294        22      9 952                 
Disposal of subsidiaries               624         0          0                 
Proceeds from sale of tangible                                                  
and intangible assets                   22        82        212                 
Purchase of other investment             0       -10        476                 
Proceeds from repayments of loans      540         0          0                 
Proceeds from sale of investment         5         0        464                 
INVESTMENT CASH FLOW (B)               632      -200    -11 363                 

FINANCING CASH FLOW                                                             
Short-term loans, increase               0         0      1 332                 
Short-term loans, decrease               0       221      1 332                 
Long-term loans, increase               51         0     11 335                 
Long-term loans, decrease              579       112      3 108                 
Dividend paid and other                                                         
profit distribution                      0         0      1 923                 
FINANCING CASH FLOW (C)               -527      -333      6 305                 

VARIATION IN WORKING CAPITAL (A + B + C)                                        
INCREASE (+)/DECREASE (-)              978       377      1 715                 

ASSETS IN THE BEGINNING                                                         
OF THE FINANCIAL PERIOD              6 174     4 445      4 445                 
EXCHANGE GAINS OR LOSSES ON                                                     
CASH AND BANK EQUIVALENTS               77         1        -14                 
ASSETS AT THE END OF                                                            
OF THE FINANCIAL PERIOD              7 075     4 821      6 174                 


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY                                     
(EUR 1 000)                                                                     

             Share   Share   Unres-  Cumula- Retained Minority   Total          
             capital premium tricted tive    earnings interest                  
                     account equity  trans-                                     
                             fund    lation                                     
                                     adjust-                                    
                                     ment                                       
Equity                                                                          
1.1.2006       2 403   8 269       0    -251    8 682    1 360  20 463          
Dividends                                      -1 923     -184  -2 107          
Share issue       40     910                                       950          
Changes in                                                                      
ownership                                                 -731    -731          
Net profit for                                                                  
the financial                                                                   
period                                          4 172      427   4 599          
Translation                                                                     
adjustment                               294                       294          
Equity                                                                          
31.12.2006     2 443   9 179       0      43   10 931      872  23 468          
                                                                                
Equity                                                                          
1.1.2007       2 443   9 179       0      43   10 931      872  23 468          
Dividends                                      -2 592     -201  -2 793          
Share issue       49           1 241                             1 290          
Net profit for                                                                  
the financial                                                                   
period                                          3 123      190   3 313          
Translation                                                                     
adjustment                              -449                      -449          
Equity                                                                          
31.3.2007      2 492   9 179   1 241    -407   11 462      861  24 829          


KEY FIGURES                                                                     
                             1-3/2007 1-3/2006 1-12/2006 Changes                
                                                         for prev.              
                                                         year                   
Revenue                        32 232   22 416   101 698   43.8 %               
Operating profit                4 265    1 512     6 823  182.1 %               
Operating profit, %              13.2      6.7       6.7                        
Profit before taxes             4 205    1 490     6 695  182.2 %               
Profit for the                                                                  
financial period                3 123      887     4 172  252.1 %               
Return on equity, %              54.9     20.9      20.9                        
Return on investment, %          49.6     27.4      24.6                        
Equity ratio, %                  40.5     49.5      42.6                        
Gross interest-bearing debt    10 196    2 234    10 804  356.4 %               
Net gearing, %                   12.6    -15.7      19.7                        
Balance sheet total            61 310   39 552    55 222   55.0 %               
Gross investments               2 436      433    12 512  462.6 %               

Earnings per share, EUR          0.32     0.09      0.43  250.9 %               
Equity per share, EUR            2.40     1.89      2.31   27.2 %               

Personnel, average              1 703    1 327     1 501   28.4 %               
Personnel at the end of                                                         
the period                      1 707    1 329     1 586   28.4 %               


NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT                                                     

General                                                                         

The parent company of the Etteplan Group is Etteplan Oyj. Etteplan Oyj (the     
Company) is a Finnish public limited company that has been established under    
Finnish law. The Company is domiciled in Hollola. The Company's shares are      
listed on the Nordic Exchange List.                                             

Etteplan Oyj and its subsidiaries provide high-quality industrial technology    
design services. The business is divided into two segments: Product Development 
and Delivery Design. The Other Operations segment consists of administration.   
The Group's main market area is Europe. In respect of our core customers,       
Etteplan's service extends worldwide.                                           

A copy of the consolidated financial statements can be obtained from our website
at www.etteplan.com or from the Head Office of the Group's parent company at the
address Terveystie 18, 15860 Hollola.                                           

Etteplan Oyj's Board of Directors approved the interim report for publication at
its meeting on 27 April 2007.                                                   

Basis of preparation                                                            

This interim report has been prepared in accordance with International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS) recognition and measurement policies, but not in     
compliance with all the requirements of IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. The 
interim report applies the same accounting policy and methods as the 2006       
financial statements. Monetary figures in this interim report are presented in  
thousands of euros. All the figures in the financial statement tables have been 
rounded up or down, due to which the sums of figures may deviate from the sum   
total presented.                                                                

New standards, amendments and interpretations became effective as of 1 January  
2007. It is the view of the company's management that their adoption will not   
have a significant effect on the Group's interim report.                        

Business combinations                                                           

On 10 January 2007, the Group acquired a 100% holding in LCA Engineering Oy, a  
company that provides design services. Company agreements and customerships are 
not recognized as an asset in connection with this acquisition, as the customer 
agreements are non-binding outline agreements by nature and therefore cannot be 
separated or sold as such. According to Etteplan Oyj's management's opinion, the
cost of acquisition exceeding the net assets of the acquired company is goodwill
by nature as it is related to the competence of the management and personnel of 
the acquired company, its market position and the operational synergies sought. 

Income taxes                                                                    

The taxes in the consolidated income statement have been calculated using the   
tax rate appropriate for the forecast full-year result. The estimated average   
effective tax rate for the year has been set separately for each country. The   
effective tax rate for 2007 in this interim report is 21% (2006: 31%). The      
lowered tax rate is due to tax-exempt capital gains from the divestment of a    
subsidiary.                                                                     

Operating profit                                                                

The operating profit in this interim report contains EUR 837 thousand in        
proceeds from the divestment of Etteplan's subsidiary NATLABS Oy. It has been   
recorded as a non-recurring item under other operating income.                  

Events after the close of the financial period                                  

The Annual General Meeting held on 29 March 2007 approved the Board of          
Directors' proposal concerning the dividend payout. The dividend payout date was
12 April 2007, meaning that dividends had not yet been paid to shareholders when
this interim report was drawn up. The dividend of EUR 0,26 on each share, to a  
total of EUR 2.6 million was deducted from shareholders' equity on 31 March     
2007.