euro adhoc: antwerpes AG
other
Interim figures for the
financial year 2004
Markedly improved result despite lower sales
Dividend of eight cent announced
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
28.02.2005
Cologne, 28 February 2005 - According to the interim figures, the antwerpes Group, Cologne (ISIN DE0005471007 // Symbol 547100) achieved sales totalling 2.7 million euro and an EBIT totalling 0.2 million euro in the 4th quarter of 2004. Total sales in the financial year 2004 amounted to 10.5 million euro and therefore fell 20 per cent below the previous year's level of 13.2 million euro. The investment behaviour of customers in the healthcare market, with whom the antwerpes Group generates 75 per cent of its sales, was influenced throughout the whole year by the effects of the Health System Modernisation Law (GMG). As a result of the pharmaceutical companies having to reduce their marketing budgets, the Communications Division which includes the antwerpes Group's agency business, had to record a hefty drop in sales of 29 per cent, taking them down from 8.5 million euro to 6 million euro. The sales figure for the DocCheck, Commerce and Logistics Division, covering the business segments e-marketing, e-commerce, e-publishing and online market research in the healthcare market, was 4.5 million euro which means that this division was almost able to maintain the previous year's level of sales (4.6 million euro). In the 4th quarter this division generated, for the first time, more than 50 per cent of the sales for the antwerpes Group. All the results indicators showed a marked improvement when compared to the previous year. The EBIT increased by 0.7 million euro, rising from -0.3 million euro in 2003 to +0.4 million euro in 2004. The result from ordinary business activities increased by 133 per cent, rising from 0.5 million euro to 1.2 million euro. Profit per share increased from four cent to ten cent. Due to the improved results situation, the Board of Directors will propose to the annual general meeting that the profit distribution to the shareholders, which was suspended for the financial year 2003, should be resumed and that a dividend of eigth cent per share should be distributed for the financial year 2004. By the end of the 4th quarter, the total amount of liquid funds and fixed-asset and current-asset securities increased by 1.2 million euro, rising from 30.0 million euro to 31.2 million euro, when compared to the 3rd quarter of 2004. For the purposes of the special dividend, which was distributed on 7.2.2005, this total amount was reduced by 14.8 million euro, as scheduled. The audited annual financial statements for the antwerpes Group's financial year 2004 will be available at the end of March via the web site www.antwerpes.de.
end of announcement euro adhoc 28.02.2005 12:14:20
Further inquiry note:
Tanja Mumme
Tel.: +49 (0)221 92053 139
E-Mail: tanja.mumme@antwerpes.de
Branche: Advertising
ISIN: DE0005471007
WKN: 547100
Index: Prime Standard
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