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 2009-08-10 IFCO SYSTEMS reports in Q2 2009 significant increased operational profitability in an unstable environment

IFCO SYSTEMS' currency adjusted operational profitability (EBITDA)
 grew in Q2 2009 by 11.0% to US $30.5 million and in H1 2009 by 12.8%
 to US $54.7 million, whereas currency adjusted group revenues fell
 slightly in Q2 2009 by 2.1% to US $184.9 million entirely due to 
weak demand in Pallet Management Services. In H1 2009 currency 
adjusted revenues grew by 1.5% to US $354.7 million. RPC Management 
Services withstood the economic downturn and increased both revenues
 and EBITDA and was driving the good profitability performance of
IFCO SYSTEMS. However, in line with management's expectations, 
revenues and EBITDA in our Pallet Management Services business 
segment declined as a result of the effects of the US economic 
recession.       Currency adjusted revenues in RPC Management 
Services grew in Q2 2009 by 12.2% to US $94.6 million and in H1 
2009 by 21.1% to US $178.8 million. This is the result of organic 
growth in our European business, the effects of the Q2 2008 STECO 
acquisition, increased volume in RPC South America and accelerating
 growth in our RPC US Management Services business. Revenues in 
Pallet Management Services declined in Q2 2009 by 13.6% to US $90.2
 million and in H1 2009 by 12.8% to US $176.0 million. IFCO SYSTEMS
 sold more pallets in its key product categories in a declining 
market and is increasing its market share compared to the prior year
 quarter. However, increasing pricing pressure resulting from lowered
 overall market demand and structural and planned downsizing of our 
Custom Crating division drove revenues lower in this segment.      
 Gross profit margin on a group level increased in Q2 2009 by 2.9 
percentage points to 20.5% (H1 2009, grew 2.8 percentage points to 
19.5%). RPC Management Services' gross profit margin grew significant
ly from 20.4% to 28.2% in Q2 2009, with improvements in both the US
 and European businesses. RPC Management Services benefited in Europe
 from increasing synergies resulting from the integration of the 
former STECO organization, in the US primarily from sustainable 
economy of scales effects and overall improved operational costs, 
and in both regions as a result of lowered depreciation levels 
following an increase in the estimated useful life of our RPC pool 
from 8 to 10 years in Q3 2008. Gross profit margin in the Pallet 
Management Services business was down to 12.5% from 15.1% in Q2 2008,
 with the effects of lower customer prices partially offset by lower
 raw materials costs and fuel prices.       Currency adjusted group 
EBITDA increased in Q2 2009 by 11.0% to US $30.5 million and in H1 
2009 by 12.8% to US $54.7 million. EBITDA on a currency adjusted 
basis in RPC Management Services increased significantly in Q2 2009
 by 35.8% to US $27.2 million and in H1 2009 by 36.4% to US $46.7 
million. EBITDA margin improved in Q2 2009 by 5.2 percentage points
 to 28.7%. EBITDA in Pallet Management Services decreased by 39.7% 
to US $5.6 million in Q2 2009 and in H1 2009 by 31.0% to US $12.1 
million. EBITDA margin fell in Q2 2009 to 6.2%.       
Q2 2009 currency adjusted EBIT grew by 34.7% to US $20.4 million 
(H1 2009 increased by 34.3% to US $35.1 million). LTM Q2 2009 currenc
y adjusted EBIT reached a level of US $76.0 million. EBIT margin 
increased significantly to a level of 11.0% in Q2 2009 (9.9% in H1
 2009) from 8.0% in Q2 2008 (7.5% in H1 2008).       Net profit 
decreased from US $4.7 million in Q2 2008 to a net loss of US $4.4 
million in Q2 2009 (H1 2009 from a net profit of US $6.0 million to
 a net loss of US $2.1 million) entirely due to the one time effects
  of the comprehensive refinancing in Q2 2009. Therefore, gains in
   operating profit were more than offset by a higher deferred tax
    provision and the costs recognized in connection with IFCO 
    SYSTEMS' comprehensive refinancing in June 2009, which were
     included in net finance costs. Excluding these one time 
     refinancing expenses, net profit for H1 2009 would have
      been US $6.3 million.       IFCO SYSTEMS cash flow
       from continuing operations, excluding the cash flow effect
        of income tax payments and ICE related payments, increased
         to US $31.2 million in H1 2009 from US $2.3 million in 
         H1 2008. The lower H1 2008 result was primarily due to
          reduced refundable deposit levels and other related 
          effects on working capital following the termination 
          of the EDEKA contract in Europe during H1 2008.   
              As a result of the comprehensive refinancing
           in Q2 2009, our sources of liquidity as of June 30, 
           2009, significantly increased by US $46.5 million, 
           or 86.9%, to US $100.1 million compared to December
            31, 2008. As a result of the above mentioned 
            refinancing activities, net debt increased by US $33.1 
million to US $293.1 million as of June 30, 2009 compared to December
 31, 2008 (on a currency adjusted basis grew by US $29.2 million).    
  Our capital expenditure levels (excluding the cash paid for the STECO acquisition in Q2 2008) increased by US $2.9 million, or 27.6%, to US $13.4 million during Q2 2009 (H1 2009, 38.8% to US $24.8 million). Following the improved usage of the RPC pool in Europe and the realized growth in the US and South America, this division is continuing to invest in its RPC pool in 2009, resulting in higher capital expenditures compared to 2008. This relative moderate increase has been partially offset by improved turns of our RPC pool, significantly lower costs of raw materials for all of our RPC pools in H1 2009, reducing the average per unit acquisition cost of a new RPC in H1 2009 as compared to H1 2008.       ROCE from continuing operations, on an LTM basis, increased to 16.1% as of June 30, 2009, compared to 15.3% as of June 30, 2008.                 US $ in thousands, except per share   amounts   Q2 2009       Q2 2008       %  Change       H1 2009   H1 2008   %  Change       LTM Q2  2009                                                 Revenues   184,877   197,955   (6.6%)       354,733   365,762   (3.0%)       724,859      Revenues currency adjusted   184,877   188,764   (2.1%)       354,733   349,329   1.5%       725,484      Gross profit   37,955   34,871   8.8%       68,996   61,075   13.0%       140,098      Gross profit margin   20.5%   17.6%           19.5%   16.7%           19.3%      EBITDA   30,467   29,145   4.5%       54,655   51,430   6.3%       114,269      EBITDA currency adjusted   30,467   27,440   11.0%       54,655   48,456   12.8%       114,619      EBITDA margin   16.5%   14.7%           15.4%   14.1%           15.8%      EBIT   20,402   15,835   28.8%       35,143   27,345   28.5%       75,593      EBIT currency adjusted   20,402   15,150   34.7%       35,143   26,175   34.3%       76,013      EBIT margin   11.0%   8.0%           9.9%   7.5%           10.4%      Net (loss) profit   (4,420)   4,682           (2,084)   5,974           (14,096)                                                 Net (loss) profit per share - basic   (0.08)   0.09           (0.04)   0.11           (0.26)      Net (loss) profit per share - diluted   (0.08)   0.09           (0.04)   0.11           (0.26)                                                 Operating cash flows from continuing operations       21,565       28,220       (23.6%)           25,828       (552)               83,522      Capital expenditures from continuing operations       13,356       39,921       (66.5%)           24,829       47,342       (47.6%)           66,440                                                 Return on capital employed (ROCE)   16.1%   15.3%                                       Outlook: As the financial crisis that unfolded in 2008 spreads to the worldwide economy, it is expected that the global economic environment will be very challenging in 2009. While IFCO SYSTEMS anticipates the economy in both Europe and the United States, its two key markets, to decline overall in 2009, it is expected that these economies will begin to recover in 2010.       It is expected that IFCO SYSTEMS RPC Management Services business will not materially suffer from the worldwide economic downturn, as the grocery food retail industry, which is IFCO SYSTEMS' main customer base, will not be as strongly affected as other industries.       Therefore, the European RPC Management Services business will continue to leverage IFCO SYSTEMS leadership position and market experience to meet or exceed overall market development. The Company will increase its sales initiatives and continue to expand geographic presence in Western Europe, Central Eastern Europe and South America. In the United States, IFCO SYSTEMS expects an increase in the overall RPC penetration among grocery food retailers and expects to grow in excess of this market development. Based on the Company's solid RPC business model, the RPC Management Services businesses is expected to grow in 2009. Therefore, IFCO SYSTEMS will continue to invest in its RPC pool during 2009. These investments, however, will be carefully aligned with IFCO SYSTEMS' business development and are targeted to increase the return on IFCO SYSTEMS' invested capital.       IFCO SYSTEMS expects that Pallet Management Services business will be negatively affected by the overall economic decline in the United States in 2009, primarily as a result of pressure on prices from this overall lower market demand. However, the Company remains confident that the key competitive advantages of Pallet Management Services business - the breadth of service offerings, the national network and the value proposition at a national and local level - have not changed and will allow its Pallet Management Services segment to increase volumes and market share in 2009 and sustain its existing leadership position.       Although the economic environment in 2009 will remain uncertain for a large part of the year, IFCO SYSTEMS believes that the above described trends will result in increased revenues and profitability in 2009 as compared to 2008.       Financially, IFCO SYSTEMS is in a position to be able to fund its capital, operational and debt service requirements through its own operational cash flows.           For further explanations, please see IFCO SYSTEMS' quarterly report, which will be filed with the Deutsche Börse AG on or about August 14, 2009, and will be available on the Company's website www.ifcosystems.com <http://www.ifcosystems.com>  or www.ifcosystems.de <http://www.ifcosystems.de> .           This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Management's current view with respect to future events. All statements contained in this release that are not clearly historical in nature or necessarily depend on future events are forward-looking. The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "planned" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of the Management on currently available information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those that may be expressed or implied by such statements. We do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release.     

 

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