Hamburg—Jungheinrich AG proved itself in fiscal 2009, which was dominated by the world economic crisis and the associated collapse of the material handling equipment market.

The company published preliminary financials on March 19, 2010: Incoming orders at the Jungheinrich Group, encompassing all business areas, declined by 23 per cent to 1,654 million euros (prior year: 2,145 million euros). Group net sales for 2009 amounted to 1,677 million euros—some 22 per cent down on the year-earlier level (2,145 million euros). By taking extensive measures to manage the crisis and improve earnings, the Jungheinrich Group succeeded in breaking even in operating terms in the autumn of 2009, after a period of eight months. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were thus slightly positive for the full year, totalling 8 million euros. Including 80 million euros in one-off expenses, however, EBIT decreased to a negative 72 million euros (prior year: a positive 122 million euros).

The Board of Management of Jungheinrich AG is taking this development into account and, in view of the loss recorded, will propose to the Supervisory Board that it present the June 15, 2010 Annual General Meeting with a draft resolution envisaging that the dividend be reduced by 0.49 euros to 0.0 euros per ordinary share and that it be reduced by 0.43 euros to 0.12 euros per preferred share (prior year: 0.55 euros).

"Jungheinrich reacted quickly and emphatically to the collapse of the markets for material handling equipment, which shrank by 37 per cent worldwide and by as much as 46 per cent in Europe, our core market, by taking comprehensive adjustment and restructuring measures. This enabled our company to achieve an operative turnaround as early as autumn, while growing its share of the market," says Hans-Georg Frey, Chairman of the Board of Management of Jungheinrich AG. The company still expects the global economy to recover slowly and does not anticipate that the sector in which it is active will experience a substantial revitalization before the second half of 2010.

Jungheinrich will disclose detailed information on its 2009 financial year at its balance sheet press conference on April 14, 2010 in Hamburg, Germany.

Jungheinrich ranks among the world’s leading companies in the material handling equipment, warehousing and material flow engineering sectors. The company is a service provider with manufacturing operations as well as an intralogistics solution provider, which offers its customers a comprehensive range of forklift trucks, shelving systems, services and consulting. Jungheinrich shares are traded on all German stock exchanges.