euro adhoc: D+S europe AG
Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers
Ad
hoc report pursuant to § 15 WpHG
D+S europe AG: Takeover of cca24 in Southern Germany Positive EBIT
for First Time in Third Quarter
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
HAMBURG/AUGSBURG/HOF, Nov. 1, 2004. D+S europe AG (ISIN DE0005336804 and DE000A0A8FU4) took over cca24 - dialog center gmbh (Augsburg, Hof), one of its top 20 competitors, retroactively as of October 1, 2004. With over 600 employees, cca24 ranks among those companies in the call center industry exhibiting the strongest growth. With this takeover, D+S europe has moved up to fifth place in its chosen industry in Germany.
cca24 plans to achieve revenues of over EUR 10.5 million (2003: EUR 6.0 million) for 2004 and is expecting further two-digit growth in 2005. Following recent contracts in the areas of industry, finance and the media, cca24 is now making preparations to create new jobs at its Hof location, which is subsidized by the State of Bavaria. cca24s activities will complement the D+S portfolio. For example, cca24 sees itself as a leading German provider of customer care services in the TV/entertainment area and also has a strong position in the automotive and utility areas. This acquisition will give D+S Europe AG a presence in eight of the country´s states, which will make the company the number one in its industry in terms of the number of the country´s states in which it is present. This location in the southern part of the country will give D+S access to new groups of customers that find it important to work with local providers. At the same time, Bavaria offers ideal prerequisites as a bridgehead for expansion abroad.
With an EBIT factor of under 5, the purchase price, which consisted of approximately 50% in stock, is strongly linked with the future performance of cca24. In the years 2005 and 2006, cca24 plans to achieve operating EBIT in the amount of EUR 1 million and EUR 1.25 million respectively. With respect to the 775,000 new shares created for the purchase from authorized capital, this represents earnings in the amount of over 75 cents per new share (EPS). After adjustment to the total number of 13,990,476 D+S shares, this represents expected earnings per share (EPS) of over 4 cents from cca24s results.
Previously cca24s sole shareholder, Markus Frengel, will continue to manage the company. At the group level, Frengel will also assume responsibility for marketing and continue to build up D+S europes AGs market position in southern Germany.
Despite charges in connection with preparations for acquisitions and acquisitions carried out recently, D+S Europe AG posted positive EBIT for the third quarter of 2004, which made this the first profitable quarter since the companys stock market debut in May 2000. With revenues of over EUR 16.5 million, fourth-quarter 2004 will be the best quarter in the companys history.
end of announcement euro adhoc 01.11.2004 17:16:41
Further inquiry note:
D+S europe AG, Investor Relations, Henning Soltau,
Tel.: +49 (0) 40/4114-3542
Branche: Media
ISIN: DE0005336804
WKN: 533680
Index: Prime Standard, CDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / regulated dealing
Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB) / free trade