2017 financial year: as expected a reduced result following completion of the Gotthard project

Zurich, 9 April 2018

The Burkhalter Group closed the 2017 financial year down on the level of the previous year. This decline was largely caused by the Gotthard project coming to an end. Earnings per share came to CHF 5.02 (previous year CHF 6.08, down by 17.4%), while the operating result (EBIT) was CHF 37.9 million (previous year: CHF 44.2 million, a reduction of 14.5%) and Group profit was CHF 30.1 million (previous year CHF 36.5 million, down by 17.5%). Sales increased slightly and came to CHF 514.7 million (previous year CHF 512.6 million).

Acquisition of Bieri Elektrotechnik AG

On 9 January 2017, the Burkhalter Group acquired its latest member of the Group, Bieri Elektrotechnik AG in Uetendorf / Thun (BE), which is a subsidiary of CM Bieri Holding AG in Zäziwil and specialises in the construction of switchboards. At the end of the 2017 financial year, the Burkhalter Group therefore comprised 45 independent electrical engineering companies at 99 locations in Switzerland. It remains a part of the Group's strategy to achieve inorganic growth via the targeted purchase of other Swiss electrical engineering companies.

Sale of the 50% share in Alpiq Burkhalter Technik AG

In view of its focus on the core business area of electrical engineering services to the construction sector and after completing the electrotechnical installations for the construction of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the Burkhalter Group sold its 50% share in Alpiq Burkhalter Technik AG to its joint venture partner Alpiq InTec AG on 22 December 2017.

Approval of a dividend

The fact that the company's financial position is very positive will allow the Board of Directors to ask the Shareholders' Meeting on 22 May 2018 to approve payment of a dividend of CHF 5.00 per share (previous year CHF 5.50).

Plans to fill the vacancy on the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors will also propose to the Shareholders' Meeting that the vacancy on the Board of Directors be filled by Ms Michèle Novak-Moser. Ms Novak-Moser, who was born in western Switzerland, has extensive experience in various management roles at the Caviar House & Prunier Group and is to represent the Burkhalter Group companies and employees from French-speaking Switzerland on the Board of Directors.

Outlook

Because of the market situation mentioned, the Burkhalter Group's management expects a good EBIT margin for the sector of around 6% for 2018 (7% in 2017 without taking the Gotthard project into consideration). This will probably result in earnings per share falling.

Particular thanks to the employees

From the perspective of the Burkhalter Group's management, the fact that the yield was well above the sector average in 2017 and is also expected to be so in 2018 is solely due to the 3,000 or so employees, who do their best day after day.

Annual report 2017

The 2017 Annual Report of the Burkhalter Group, consisting of the Financial Report 2017 and the Portrait 2017, can be downloaded at http://www.burkhalter.ch/en/investor-relations/reports