JoWooD Productions Software AG
euro adhoc: JoWooD Productions Software AG
JoWooD announces time
table for entry of a strategic partner for development of the US
market (E)
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
At the annual shareholders meeting on April 22, 2004 JoWooD presented its medium-term strategy which laid particular emphasis on the improvement of the companys sales performance in the US market. The previous business year saw a further increase in JoWooDs already significant market share in Germany and the adjacent European regions. With a 4.22 % market share JoWooD ranks # 5 (2002: # 6) in the market for PC entertainment software. JoWooDs rather small share of the global market for PC entertainment of about 0.8% and the fact that the company has so far targeted the console market with only limited effort explain why JoWooDs share of the worldwide market for entertainment software has, up to now, not exceeded the per mill range. By restructuring its distribution JoWooD managed to increase its US result significantly from losses in the previous years to over EUR 2m, (unadjusted margin), in 2003. However, with US revenues of below EUR 3m, JoWooDs sales in the industrys biggest single market still remain well below the companys potential.
In order to reap the true potential of its proven product portfolio, JoWooD is seeking a strategic alliance with partner with a strong market presence in the US. This partnership will go hand in hand with the partners acquisition of a non-controlling stake in JoWooD by way of a capital increase, and the co-publishing of the other partners product portfolios by both partners. In addition, JoWooD will intensify its own international marketing activities. The terms for the capital increase will be decided at an extra ordinary shareholders meeting on June 15, 2004. The capital increase will be conducted in two tranches. The first tranche will be open only to the strategic partner and will exclude subscription by existing shareholders. The second tranche will be offered to existing shareholders at equal terms. The capital increase is scheduled for the second half of June and will be managed by Capital Bank - GRAWE Gruppe AG. The primary objective of the capital increase is to forge an alliance with a strategic partner. Therefore, the issue price shall not take into account recent short-deviations in the stock price. The strategic partner and details of the capital increase will be announced at a press conference on May 26, 2004.
end of announcement euro adhoc 19.05.2004
Further inquiry note:
JoWooD Productions Software AG
Dr. Michael Pistauer, Vorstand.
Karin Kraberger, Investor Relations
Tel.: +43 (0)3614 2966 1015
mailo:investor@jowood.com
http://www.jowood.com
Branche: Software
ISIN: AT0000747357
WKN: 074735
Index: ATX Prime, ViDX, WBI
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official dealing
Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / free trade