Healthy preliminary figures indicate that GfK Group's 2006 organic growth of 5.4% was again ahead of the estimated industry average of 4-5%. Declining sales in Japan meant overall Asia Pacific growth was nil, but the firm's operations in Central and Eastern Europe continue to boom.
Healthy preliminary figures indicate that GfK Group's 2006 organic growth of 5.4% was again ahead of the estimated industry average of 4-5%. Tough times in Japan meant overall Asia Pacific growth was nil, but the firm's operations in Central and Eastern Europe continue to boom.
The Group has achieved its sales target in full and the margin is on the upside of the target range of 13.3% to 13.6%, which in itself was upgraded in mid-November 2006.
Sales passed the EUR 1 billion mark, increasing by 18.7%, from EUR 937.3m in 2005 to EUR 1,112m. Operating income has increased 20%, to EUR 150m and the Group now employs 7,903 staff, up 388 or 5.2% from last year.
Growth from acquisitions was 14%, with the purchase of NOP World coming in June 2005 and therefore having only a partial effect on the previous year's figures. A 9% increase in the dividend per share is proposed, to EUR 0.36.
Strong performances were notable in certain divisions:
All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.
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