Kirkel - 07. 7 March 2006. Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG recorded a strong leap in profits in fiscal 2005: According to the combined financials, earnings before interest, tax and amortization (EBITA) rose by 31.6 percent from € 80.4 to 105.8 million. This was in particular attributable to the successful opening of new outlets abroad as well as a consistent cost and human resources management in Germany.

Wolfgang Werner, CEO of Praktiker, was “very satisfied“ with the development of business in the year 2005. “With these results we have demonstrated once again that our strategy of profitable growth works. This is one of the best results of the 28-year corporate history of Praktiker, which we plan to repeat also in 2006.“ The Board of Management will supply more information about the company’s expectations regarding the current fiscal year on the occasion of the Annual Business Press Conference scheduled for 4 April in Frankfurt/Main.

Sales during the fiscal year just ended climbed from € 2.93 to 3.03 billion. This corresponds to a rise in sales of 3.4 percent. Even on the German market Praktiker managed to grow contrary to the general trend in this business sector. While the Federal Statistical office recorded a general decline in sales for the overall home improvement and DIY retail business of 1.7 percent for the year 2005, sales of the Praktiker group rose 0.7 percent during the same period.