Wincor Nixdorf was able to improve profit for the period up to €18 million, or 17%, at €127 million (2006/2007: €109 million).

Net sales rose 8% to €2,319 million (2006/2007: €2,145 million). In fiscal 2007/2008, sales growth was again driven predominantly by the Banking (Glossary)  segment. Around 75% of net sales revenue was generated outside Germany.

The gross margin on net sales before exceptional items resulting from the amortization of product know-how showed a slight fall to 27.4% (2006/2007: 27.6%).

In fiscal 2007/2008, we again increased our expenses for research and development activities. Total expenses in this area was €105 million (2006/2007: €97 million), equivalent to a rise of 8%. The R&D ratio remained constant at 4.5%.

Thanks to strict cost management as part of our “ProImprove” profitability program, the ratio of selling, general and administration expenses to net sales fell by 0.4 percentage points to 14.0% (2006/2007: 14.4%). Selling, general and administration expenses, including other operating income and expenses, amounted to €325 million (2006/2007: €308 million).

As a result, EBITDA climbed €27 million, or 12%, to reach €260 million (2006/2007: €233 million). Accordingly, the EBITDA (Glossary)  margin rose 0.3 percentage points to 11.2% (2006/2007: 10.9%).

EBITA also benefited from these developments to end the fiscal year up €20 million, or 11%, at €206 million (2006/2007: €186 million). The EBITA margin was up 0.2 percentage points at 8.9% (2006/2007: 8.7%).